Palladium modified ZnFe2O4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite as an efficiently magnetic recycling photocatalyst

Abstract

A palladium modified ZnFe2O4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was synthesized via an ultrasonic-assisted self-assemble and photoreduction route. As a ternary Z-scheme photocatalyst, the as-obtained Pd/ZnFe2O4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was methodically characterized by diverse analysis techniques. For rhodamine B (RhB) and Cr(Ⅵ) removal, the ternary Pd/ZnFe2O4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst achieved an enhanced feature in photocatalytic capability. The reason is that the excellent electron transfer efficiency through Pd nanoparticles on the interfaces between ZnFe2O4 nanospheres and g-C3N4 nanosheets. Especially, Pd nanoparticles can also provide a preferred Z-scheme transfer pathway for electrons, which can generate higher redox active species. It identified that the Pd/ZnFe2O4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst had an obvious ability of magnetical separation and good recycling stability. Additionally, the reactive mechanism of the Pd/ZnFe2O4/g-C3N4 ternary nanocomposite was also investigated during photocatalysis reaction.