A magnetically separable photocatalyst based on nest-like gamma-Fe2O3/ZnO double-shelled hollow structures with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Magnetic nest-like gamma-Fe2O3/ZnO double-shelled hollow nanostructures have been successfully synthesized via a multi-step process. The materials have been thoroughly characterized by different techniques. These interesting nest-like hollow nanostructures are composed of ZnO nanoflakes grown on the surface of gamma-Fe2O3 hollow spheres. Importantly, these magnetic hollow nanostructures show very high visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of different organic dyes including methylene blue (MB), Rhodamine-B (RhB), and methyl orange (MO). It is further demonstrated that these gamma-Fe2O3/ZnO hybrid photocatalysts are highly stable and can be used repeatedly.