Synthesis and characterization of the magnetic submicrocube Fe3O4/TiO2/CuO as a reusable photocatalyst for the degradation of dyes under sunlight irradiation

Throughout this study, the magnetic submicrocube Fe3O4 was synthesized and then coated by TiO2. The resultant (Fe3O4/TiO2) was loaded via CuO yielding to Fe3O4/TiO2/CuO. The intermediate and final products were characterized by using different methods. Based on the PL spectra, the electron/hole recombination of Fe3O4/TiO2/CuO was reduced compared to Fe3O4/TiO2. Moreover, the DRS spectrum revealed that the Fe3O4/TiO2/CuO band gap was narrower than that of Fe3O4/TiO2. XRD and HRTEM results denoted that Fe3O4, TiO2 and CuO were crystallized in cubic, tetragonal and monoclinic phases, respectively. The photocatalytic effect of the Fe3O4/TiO2/CuO on degradation of methylene blue (MB), methyl red (MR), congo red (CR) and methyl orange (MO) was investigated by being exposed to sunlight irradiation. The photocatalyst could be simply separated from the reaction mixture and thereafter be reutilized in dyes degradation reaction. Having the reaction mixture recycled, the obtained photocatalyst could be reutilized for further usages. The MB degradation was examined in the presence of different scavengers to suggest the mechanisms. The scavenger test results showed that the hydroxyl radical could play a prominent role in the photocatalytic degradation of MB with Fe3O4/TiO2/CuO under the sunlight irradiation. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The synthesized Fe3O4/TiO2/CuO photocatalyst showed excellent degradation performance under sunlight irradiation and exhibited good recyclability. The narrower band gap and reduced electron/hole recombination of Fe3O4/TiO2/CuO were observed, facilitating the photocatalytic degradation effect.