Single- and Double-Shelled CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles as Highly Efficient Magnetic Separable Photocatalysts

Abstract

In this paper, we have reported a facile strategy to fabricate a core/shell/shell structured CuO@ZnO@CoFe2O4 nanocomposite with enhanced UV-light-driven photocatalytic activity that is capable of fast magnetic separation. Photocatalytic examination of the as-prepared photocatalyst was carried out using methylene blue (MB) solution under UV irradiation. A hypothesized reaction mechanism was presented, showing the introduction of CuO into ZnO@CoFe2O4 nanocomposite facilitates charge separation by trapping photo-generated electrons, therefore improves the photocatalytic properties. The resultant multifunctional nanocomposite was thoroughly characterized by a series of techniques including XRD, EDX, FTIR, SEM, TEM and VSM.