Preparation of magnetic Fe3O4/TiO2/Ag composite microspheres with enhanced photocatalytic activity

The novel three-component Fe3O4/TiO2/Ag composite mircospheres were prepared via a facile chemical deposition route. The Fe3O4/TiO2 mircospheres were first prepared by the solvothermal method, and then Ag nanoparticles were anchored onto the out-layer of TiO2 by the tyrosine-reduced method. The as-prepared magnetic Fe3O4/TiO2/Ag composite mircospheres were applied as photocatalysis for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The results indicate that the photocatalytic activity of Fe3O4/TiO2/Ag composite microspheres is superior to that of Fe3O4/TiO2 due to the dual effects of the enhanced light absorption and reduction of photoelectronehole pair recombination in TiO2 with the introduction of Ag NPs. Moreover, these magnetic Fe3O4/TiO2/Ag composite microspheres can be completely removed from the dispersion with the help of magnetic separation and reused with little or no loss of catalytic activity. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.