Magnetic TiO2/MWCNTs Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange

A series of magnetic recyclable photocatalyst TiO2/Fe3O4/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) ternary nanocomposite, containing 0.015, 0.030 and 0.060 g of MWCNTs, were synthesized by hydrolysis in situ. Through hydrolysis and calcination, titanium isopropoxide around MWCNTs transformed to teeny abundant TiO2Nps in situ. A range of analytical techniques including XRD and SEM/EDX were employed to reveal the crystal structure, morphology and property of the nanocomposite. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light. Morphology characterization showed that TiO2Nps with size of about 8.56-14.38 nm and Fe3O4Nps with size of about 12.20 nm coated on the surfaces of MWCNTs. XRD results revealed that anatase TiO2 and cubic spinel Fe3O4 exist in the nanocomposite. We obtained 60% degradation of MO in the presence of TiO2/Fe3O4/MWCNTs nanocomposite containing 0.06g MWCNTs. These enhanced and unique properties of TiO2/Fe3O4/MWCNTs nanocomposite can be ascribed to the synergistic effect among three components.