A cost-effective, stable, magnetically recyclable photocatalyst of ultra-high organic pollutant degradation efficiency: SnFe2O4 nanocrystals from a carrier solvent assisted interfacial reaction process

A cost-effective, stable, magnetically recyclable photocatalyst of ultra-high organic pollutant degradation efficiency, SnFe2O4 nanocrystal (NC), was developed. SnFe2O4 NCs were produced with a simple, fast, room temperature, surfactant-free, co-fed precursor, carrier solvent-assisted interfacial reaction process. The outstanding organic pollutant degradation efficiency of the SnFe2O4 NCs was demonstrated with rhodamine B (RhB) degradation in a Fenton-like process under illumination of simulated sun light at 100 mW cm (2). The apparent reaction rate constant can reach as high as 0.35 min (1), one order of magnitude higher than 0.02 min(-1) achieved by commercial P25 powders. The excellent magnetic recyclability and cycling stability of SnFe2O4 NCs toward RhB degradation were also demonstrated. A degradation mechanism is proposed to show how chemical and photochemical catalyzations work to realize the ultrahigh degradation efficiency of the SnFe2O4 NCs. The SnFe2O4 NCs prove to be a highly efficient and promising catalyst for Fenton-like processes for removal of recalcitrant organic pollutants.