A magnetic Fe 3 O 4 decorated TiO 2 nanoparticles application for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under direct sunlight irradiation

Fe 3 O 4 enriched TiO 2 nano photocatalyst with various weight percentage (2, 4, and 8 wt%) of Fe 3 O 4 loaded on TiO 2 were effectively synthesized by co-precipitation method for removal of methylene blue dye under direct sunlight. The characterizations of the as-prepared product were done by Field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis spectroscopy (EDAX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was used as a model reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 nanoparticles under visible light irradiation. The influence of the doping amount of Fe 3 O 4 (2, 4, and 8 wt%) on photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 was investigated. Results show that the size of Fe 3 O 4 @TiO 2 particle decreased and their absorption spectra are broadened with increased absorption intensity. The doping can control the conversion of TiO 2 from anatase to rutile. The doping amount remarkably affects the activity of the catalyst, and the optimum efficiency occurs at about the doping amount of 8 wt%. The appropriate amount of doping 8 wt% can remarkably increase the catalytic activity of TiO 2 for methylene blue (MB) photocatalytic degradation under visible light irradiation.