Facile Construction of Tio <sub>2</sub>Co <sub>0.6</sub>Cu <sub>0.25</sub>Zn <sub>0.15</sub>Fe <sub>2</sub>O <sub>4</sub> Nanocomposite with Highly Improved Sunlight Photocatalytic and Stability Performance

Abstract

A magnetic nanocomposite Tio2/Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4, was synthesized via a co-precipitation followed by Sol-Gel method. Ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4 are obtained by co-precipitation method using (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) as surfactant. Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4 (NPs) are mixed with the titanium precursor during sol-gel process, which promotes their direct jonction with TiO2 primary particles. The prepared materials were characterized, by XRD, FTIR, Raman Spectra, SEM-EDX, HR-TEM, UV-vis, DRS Spectra, and PL Spectra. It was demonstrated that the nanocomposite is composed of mixed-phase crystals of TiO2 anatase and cubic spinel ferrite Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4 with anatase as dominant phase. SEM and TEM images show monodisperse, spherical and aggregated TiO2 microspheres. The integration of Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4 (NPs) causes a small change in the aggregation of TiO2 microspheres. The integration of Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4 with TiO2 leads to non-uniform distribution of spherical particles. The direct bandgap of Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4 nanoparticles (1.34eV) and TiO2/Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4 nanocomposite (2.78eV) demonstrate their ability as sunlight photocatalysts. Importantly, the Co0.6Cu0.25Zn0.15Fe2O4 (NPs) demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Congo-Red (CR) and paracetamol compared to that from its individual counterparts such as TiO2 and P25 Degussa.