Magnetically separable one dimensional Fe3O4/P(MAA-DVB)/TiO2 nanochains: Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity

One dimensional (1D) magnetic Fe3O4/P(MAA-DVB)/TiO2 nanochains as photocatalyst were successfully prepared by a combination of magnetic-field-induced assembly, distillation precipitation polymerization, mixed-solvent hydrolysis and modified hydrothermal method. The as-obtained multilayer core-shell hybrid nanochains were composed of Fe3O4 core with excellent magnetic response, polymer in the middle layer aiming to protect Fe3O4 from chemical corrosion and an outer TiO2 shell for the degradation of organic contaminants. SEM, EDS, TEM, FTIR, XPS and TGA analyses indicated that P(MAA-DVB) and TiO2 were coated on the surface of Fe3O4 nanochains layer by layer and the nanochains had a length of several micrometers. The results of XRD proved that the outer TiO2 shell was anatase which was the most suitable crystal form for photocatalysis. The VSM measurements showed that the saturation magnetization of the magnetic photocatalyst was 35.2 emu/g, making it easy for the photocatalyst to be recovered and recycled by applying an external magnetic field. Moreover, the N2 adsorption-desorption analysis demonstrated the 1D magnetic Fe3O4/P(MAA-DVB)/TiO2 nanochains were porous with the BET surface area of 32 m2/g. Finally, the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) by the obtained magnetic photocatalyst was investigated via UV-visible absorption spectra. It was found that this kind of 1D photocatalyst had an excellent photodegradation and recycling performance.