Facile synthesis and enhanced magnetic, photocatalytic properties of one-dimensional Ag@Fe3O4-TiO2

Fe3O4-TiO2 heterostructures were synthesized through co-precipitation method based on TiO2 nanobelts. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibration sample magnetometry (VSM) were used to characterize the heterostructure nanocomposites. The results of XRD proved that the TiO2 nanobelt was anatase which was the most suitable crystal form for photocatalysis. SEM and TEM analysis indicated that Fe3O4 nanoparticles were adhere to TiO2 nanobelts which have one-dimensional structure with 100-200 nm in width. The VSM measurements showed that the photocatalyst can be easily recovered by an extemal magnetic field. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of Ag@Fe3O4-TiO2 nanocomposites studies confirm that Ag is in Ag0 state. Finally, the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) by the obtained magnetic photocatalyst was investigated via UV-vis absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was observed to be lower compared to bare TiO2 due to the higher degree of recombination reactions after combined with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. After coated the composite of 15% Fe3O4-TiO2 with Ag, the new nanocomposite of Ag@Fe3O4-TiO2 can be easily recovered after photocatalysis by an extemal magnetic field and showed enhanced photocatalytic activity. The mechanisms for the exhibited enhanced photocatalytic effect of Ag nanoparticle decorated Fe3O4-TiO2 nanocomposites with surface heterostructures are discussed.