Electrospun TiO2 nanofibers integrating space-separated magnetic nanoparticles and heterostructures for recoverable and efficient photocatalyst

Abstract

TiO₂ nanofibers integrating space-separated magnetic nanoparticles and heterostructures have been fabricated to construct multifunctional photocatalysts with excellent photocatalytic activity and magnetic recoverability. The electrospinning technique has been employed to prepare the Fe₃O₄-embedded TiO₂ (Fe₃O₄@TiO₂) magnetic nanofibers. TiO₂/CdS heterostructures (Fe₃O₄@TiO₂/CdS) formed by depositing CdS nanoparticles onto the Fe₃O₄@TiO₂ nanofibers have been obtained by a hydrothermal process. The heterostructures improve the photocatalytic activity and widen the range of solar light response. Under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic activity of the Fe₃O₄@TiO₂/CdS nanofibers is 5.11 times higher than that of the Fe₃O₄@TiO₂ nanofibers and is 1.22 times than that of CdS nanoparticles. In addition, it exhibits a slight increase under simulated solar light with the photocatalytic degradation ratio 1.1 times higher than that under visible light. The loading amounts of CdS only have effects on the photocatalytic activity under visible light and simulated solar light. The Fe₃O₄@TiO₂/CdS nanofiber exhibits a saturation magnetization strength of 1.572 emu g⁻¹ and can be effortlessly separated and recovered by applying a contactless magnetic field. The cycling stability is durable after magnetic separation and recycling.