Synthesis of porous Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanospheres as highly efficient and recyclable photocatalysts

A facile approach for the preparation of Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanospheres with good porous structure has been demonstrated by a hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) absorbance spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic decomposition of methyl orange (MO) by the as-prepared samples was carried out under visible light irradiation. The reusability and magnetic properties were also investigated. The results revealed that the porous Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanospheres showed considerable photocatalytic activity, and exhibited excellent reusability and magnetic properties with almost no change after five runs. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.