A magnetically recoverable photocatalyst prepared by supporting TiO2 nanoparticles on a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocluster core@fibrous silica shell nanocomposite. Issue 16 (1st February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seo, Bokyung; Lee, Chaedong; Yoo, Donggeon; Kofinas, Peter; Piao, Yuanzhe
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 7:Issue 16(2017)
• Page Start: 9587
• Page End: 9595
• Publication Date: 2017-02-01
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra27907d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : A magnetically recoverable photocatalyst was prepared by supporting TiO2 nanoparticles on a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocluster core@fibrous silica shell nanocomposite. Abstract : A magnetically recoverable photocatalyst was prepared by supporting TiO2 nanoparticles on a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocluster (SION) core@fibrous silica shell (FSS) nanocomposite. Using the raspberry-shaped magnetic iron oxide nanocluster core as a seed, FSS with uniform thickness was grown directly on the core surface by a sol–gel process. The preparation method was optimized to have a single core for each nanoparticle by adjusting the amount of the silica source. The FSS has a fanning structure of radial pores, which enable large amounts of TiO2 nanoparticles to be supported easily on the pore surface. SION@FSS with amorphous TiO2 loaded on the pores (SION@FSS@Am-TiO2 ) was crystallized to the anatase phase (SION@FSS@A-TiO2 ), which shows good photocatalytic effect. When used for water purification, SION@FSS@A-TiO2 shows faster dye degradation kinetics than that of commercial P25 nanoparticles. The as-prepared SION@FSS@A-TiO2 photocatalyst could be magnetically recovered easily from water after decolorization of the dye.