Preparation of magnetic core/shell structured γ-Fe2O3@Ti-tmSiO2 and its application for the adsorption and degradation of dyes

• Core/shell structured γ-Fe2O3@Ti-tmSiO2 has been prepared.
• Core γ-Fe2O3 can serve as a Fenton-like catalyst.
• Core γ-Fe2O3 facilitates the separation of the composite.
• The mesoporous shell with tunable sizes has adsorption to the reactants.
• Ti4+ species in the shell have a synergic effect in the degradation of dyes.

A core/shell structured γ-Fe2O3@Ti-tmSiO2 nanocomposite with enhanced activity for the degradation of dyes that is capable of fast magnetic separation has been successfully prepared by a sol–gel process followed with calcination. The obtained core/shell structure is composed of a superparamagnetic core with a strong response to external fields, and an outer layer of porous titanium silicate with a tunable porous sizes. The convenient control over the pore size and the thickness of porous silica containing titanium species may make it possible to adsorb and catalyze molecules with different sizes. The presence of porous SiO2 helps to enhance the chemical and thermal stability of γ-Fe2O3 core. It is demonstrated that the core γ-Fe2O3 as a Fenton-like catalyst exhibits good performance, while the Ti4+ existing in the porous shell also gives obvious activity in the degradation of dyes. The composite γ-Fe2O3@Ti-tmSiO2 possesses enhanced activity for the treatment of pollutants in water.

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