Preparation, Characterization and Visible-Light Catalytic Activity of Core-Shell Structure NiFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>@TiO<sub>2</sub> Ferrite Nanoparticles

Abstract

The core-shell structure NiFe2O4@TiO2 nanoparticles was successfully prepared using a sol-gel method, the influence of shell thickness and calcination temperatures on the composition, microstructure, magnetic properties and visible-light catalytic activity of the nanoparticles was studied by XRD, TEM, Uv–vis, vibrating sample magnetometer, etc. Results showed the main composition of core in NiFe2O4@TiO2 was spinel ferrite, and the shell was anatase TiO2, and theshell thickness increased significantly with the increase of TiO2 content, ranging from 10nm to 50nm. The Ms and Mr of nanoparticles decreased with the increase of TiO2 content, and no obvious reaction between the magnetic core and shell occurred; visible-light degradation percent of NiFe2O4@TiO2 nanoparticles increased along with the increase of TiO2 content, whereas the recovery rate of it decreased. Degradation percent and the recovery percent of NiFe2O4@TiO2-50 still reached 93.7% and 90.5%, even after 10 cycle times, respectively, possessing the excellent long-term stability.