Magnetite/N-doped carboxylate-rich carbon spheres: Synthesis, characterization and visible-light-induced photocatalytic properties

A novel magnetically separable visible-light-photocatalyst, magnetite/N-doped carboxylate-rich carbon spheres (N-MCRCSs), was synthesized by a facile ultrasonic method using the magnetite/carboxylate-rich carbon spheres (MCRCSs) as precursors. N element has been successfully doped into the MCRCSs in a HNO3 aqueous solution via an ultrasonic treatment, which were demonstrated by the FT-IR and XPS. N-MCRCSs exhibit more intensive absorption over MCRCSs in the entire UV and visible region. N-MCRCSs can not only be easily recycled by applying an external magnetic field, but also exhibit powerful visible light photocatalytic activity.

Graphical abstractMagnetite/N-doped carboxylate-rich carbon spheres (N-MCRCSs) were synthesized, which can not only be easily recycled by applying an external magnetic field, but also exhibit powerful visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide