LIAO Weixiu, AI Jianping, SONG Chengye, ZHOU Zhehua, CHEN Zhiqin, YANG Yanling, RAO Shaoqing, LI Wenkui
(Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Surface Engineering, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330038, Jiangxi, China)
Abstract: Pure ZnO, ZnFe2O4 and ZnO/ZnFe2O4 composite photocatalysts were synthesized by a simple solvent thermal method. Different phase content and morphological characteristics of ZnO/ZnFe2O4 composite photocatalyst were obtained by adjusting the molar ratio of Zn2+/Fe3+. The physical and chemical properties of the samples were analyzed by XRD, SEM, DRS and low-temperature nitrogen. The photocatalytic properties of the catalysts were studied using a 500 W xenon-lamp as an illumination device andmethylene blue as a target pollutant. The results show that the ZnO/ZnFe2O4 composite photocatalyst had somevisible light catalytic degration activity. When the Zn2+/Fe3+ mole ratio was 5 : 2, the visible light catalytic degradation of the ZnO/ZnFe2O4 composite photocatalyst was superior to that of the pure ZnO and the ZnFe2O4, then after 210 min the degration rate of methylene blue can reach 36%. Meanwhile, the magnetic hysteresis loop and recovery properties of ZnO/ZnFe2O4 composite photocatalyst were studied by using magnetometer and an external magnetic field. It was known that the saturation magnetization intensity was 27.6 emu·g-1, which indicated strong ferromagnetism, when the Zn2+/Fe3+ mole ratio was 5 : 2. Under the action of external magnetic field, it could be quickly separated from the suspension solution.
Key words: ZnO/ZnFe2O4; solvent thermal synthesis; visible light response; magnetic