Synthesis and characterization of novel magnetically separable NiFe2O4@AlMCM-41-Cu2O core-shell and its performance in removal of dye

摘要

The synthesis of magnetic NiFe2O4@AlMCM-41-Cu2O core-shell as a new class of visible light driven photocatalyst was suggested. The magnetic NiFe2O4 core was prepared by solvothermal method. The intermediate AlMCM-41 shell was prepared by the method of liquid crystal templating mechanism and subsequently cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in NiFe(2)O4@ AlMCM-41-core-shell via colloidal chemistry approach. The properties of prepared magnetic core-shell were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurement and vibration sample magnetometer (VSM). Based on EDX results, the weight percentage (wt%) of NiFe2O4 core, MCM-41 shell and Cu2O NPs were calculated to be 68.89, 30.55 and 0.56%, respectively. It consisted of mesoporous structure with a surface area of 687.00 m(2) g(-1), an average pore size of 2.95 nm and possessed excellent magnetic properties of 4.74 emu g(-1). The TEM results indicated that the NiFe2O4 as core were regular spheres with diameter of 68 nm, and the average thickness of AlMCM-41 shells was similar to 35 nm. The particles size of Cu2O incorporated in core-shell was less than 5 nm. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated under visible light irradiation using the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye as a model reaction. The removal rate of MB achieved up to 90% after 60 min under visible light irradiation, and the NiFe2O4@AlMCM-41-Cu2O can be recycled and reused. (C) 2017 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.