Abstract
The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized in the presence of a very small amount of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, is here presented and discussed. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses, the crystallinity of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) seems to be affected by Fe3O4, acting as nano-seeds to improve the tetragonal TiO2 anatase structure with respect to the amorphous one. Photocatalytic activity data, i.e., the degradation of methylene blue and the Ofloxacin fluoroquinolone emerging pollutant, give evidence that the increased crystalline structure of the NPs, even if correlated to a reduced surface to mass ratio (with respect to commercial TiO2 NPs), enhances the performance of this type of catalyst. The achievement of a relatively well-defined crystal structure at low temperatures (Tmax = 150 °C), preventing the sintering of the TiO2 NPs and, thus, preserving the high density of active sites, seems to be the keystone to understand the obtained results.
Highlights
Nowadays, titanium dioxide is one of the most studied photocatalysts due to its low cost, versatility of synthesis, high chemical stability and, high efficiency [1,2]
We have studied the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) of titanium dioxide in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles
The two compounds showed the characteristic peaks of the TiO2 tetragonal anatase structure, presented as a line pattern in the same figure
Summary
Titanium dioxide is one of the most studied photocatalysts due to its low cost, versatility of synthesis, high chemical stability and, high efficiency [1,2]. TiO2 is applicable are widely diffuse, ranging from self-cleaning surfaces [3] to sterilization [4], photoelectrochemical conversion [5], clean energy production [6], and air and water purification systems. In this last field, water treatment for the removal of organic (potentially) toxic substances [7,8], included pharmaceutically-active emerging pollutants [9,10], is currently a priority task. The best material was tested for the degradation of Ofloxacin (OFL), an important emerging water pollutant, belonging to the class of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics
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