Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrite-Semiconductor Nano Composite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Aqueous Nitrobenzene Solution

摘要

Nanoparticles of semiconductor TiO_2, zinc ferrite (ZnFe_2O_4) and ZnFe_2O_4-TiO_2 composite, were synthesized by auto combustion route. Subsequent characterization of synthesized photocatalysts was carried out by X-ray powder diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis-Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy to study the structural and textural properties. The specific surface area, pore diameter and pore volume of synthesized materials were investigated by N_2 adsorption analysis while the presence of TiO_2 in the composite material was verified by infrared spectral analysis. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized photocatalysts was evaluated by degradation of nitrobenzene (NB) in aqueous medium under irradiation of ultraviolet light. The result revealed that 77, 73 and 70%of NB was degraded using TiO_2, ZnFe_2O_4 and ZnFe_2O_4-TiO_2 photocatalysts after 4h in the presence of UV irradiation. The composite photocatalyst was found easy to separate from the treated solution.