Synthesis of Ni0.2Fe1.8O3/polyaniline magnetic nanocomposite with excellent photocatalytic activity

(10 mol%)Ni-doped Fe2O3 (Ni0.2Fe1.8O3)/polyaniline (PANI) magnetic nanocomposite was synthesized by facile oxidative polymerization method. Structure and magnetic property of Ni0.2Fe1.8O3/PANI was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), Raman, UV-Visible spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The obtained results revealed that PANI was grown on the surface of ferromagnetic Ni0.2Fe1.8O3 nanocrystals. Owing to visible light absorption behavior and synergetic effect, Ni0.2Fe1.8O3/PANI exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity towards photodegradation of methylene blue (MB).