(00517)TiO_2/CoFe_2O_4/Ag nanocomposites for photocatalytic reduction of water pollutants under UV and solar light

摘要

Novel ternary catalysts TiO_2/CoFe_2O_4/Ag with variable ferrite content were synthesized, characterized and used for the photocatalytic reduction of Cr~(+6)pollutant, under UV and visible light illumination. Both TiO_2 and CoFe_2O_4 were synthesized using the sol-gel method followed by hydrothermal treatment to prepare TiO_2/CoFe_2O_4 (TCF)composite. Silver nanoparticles were successfully loaded on the surface of TCF to get three different composites, named as Ag/TCF. The crystal structure of the composites was analyzed by application of physicochemical characterization techniques. The presence of pure anatase phase TiO_2, cubic CoFe_2O_4, and silver nanoparticles was indicated in both XRD patterns and Raman spectra. It was found that the addition of silver nanoparticles has a great contribution to the photocatalytic reduction of Cr~(+6)species. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism was studied by applying scavenging reaction process, revealing that electrons were strongly supported for the photocatalytic reduction of Cr~(+6). After the photocatalytic experiments, the composite catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction solution by external magnetic bar and re-used.