Synthesis of porous Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanospheres as highly efficient and recyclable photocatalysts

A facile approach for the preparation of Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanospheres with good porous structure has been demonstrated by a hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible light (UV–vis) absorbance spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic decomposition of methyl orange (MO) by the as-prepared samples was carried out under visible light irradiation. The reusability and magnetic properties were also investigated. The results revealed that the porous Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanospheres showed considerable photocatalytic activity, and exhibited excellent reusability and magnetic properties with almost no change after five runs.

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► Novel porous Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanospheres were designed and synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method.
► Porous Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanospheres showed an expanding visible light absorption and considerable improved visible light photocatalytic activity.
► This structure exhibited excellent reusability and magnetic properties.
► The mechanism relies on photogenerated electrons and holes transfer between g-C3N4 and Fe3O4.