Ternary P25–graphene–Fe3O4 nanocomposite as a magnetically recyclable hybrid for photodegradation of dyes

• P25–graphene–Fe3O4 (PGF) nanocomposite was synthesized by a facile and efficient approach.
• PGF catalysts showed high efficiency in photodegradation of various dyes.
• The catalyst showed superior magnetic separation and stable cycling performance.

A ternary P25–graphene–Fe3O4 (PGF) magnetic nanocomposite has been successfully synthesized by decorating P25 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) through a facile solvothermal reaction and its ability to photodegrade organic dyes in aqueous solutions was investigated. The as-synthesized sample exhibits high photocatalytic activity toward various dyes and can be easily recycled by normal magnet due to the existence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Furthermore, owing to the presence of RGO, the photo-dissolution behavior of Fe3O4 nanoparticles occurring in the TiO2–Fe3O4 binary nanocomposites can be suppressed effectively, which increase the durability of such a recollectable photocatalyst. In addition, the PGF nanocomposite can work well under the acid pH conditions and also can photodegrade the mixtures of various dyes. These advantages make the PGF ternary composite an excellent photocatalyst use in practical wastewater treatment.

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