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Synthesis and Highly Photocatalytic Properties of Cu/Fe3O4 Nanospheres and Nanoparticles

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Abstract

Cu/Fe3O4 nanospheres and nanoparticles were synthesized by using a hydrothermal procedure. The as-prepared samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The TEM images showed that the morphologies of Cu/Fe3O4 composites could be tuned by adding different amounts of urea. The resultant Cu/Fe3O4 composites could be nanospheres with a mean size of 90 nm with the addition of 15 mmol of urea but nanoparticles with a mean size of about 15 nm by adding 30 mmol of urea. The possible formation mechanism of Cu/Fe3O4 nanospheres and nanoparticles were explained reasonably. The photocatalytic performances of Cu/Fe3O4 composites for degrading methyl blue under irradiation of visible light were investigated. The results demonstrated that Cu/Fe3O4 nanospheres exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than did nanoparticles as they had the same compositions. Additionally, the Cu/Fe3O4 composites with a high Cu content could exhibit higher photocatalytic performance.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the University Nature Science Research Project of Anhui Province, China (Grant No. KJ2015A208), and by the Nature Science Fund of Anhui Province, China (Grant No. 1608085MB33).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, 232038, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Lu Pan, Dong Tian & Qiyong Zhu

  2. Anhui Key Laboratory of Low Temperature Co-fired Material, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, 232001, People’s Republic of China

    Lu Pan & Dong Tian

Authors
  1. Lu Pan
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  2. Dong Tian
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Correspondence to Lu Pan.

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Pan, L., Tian, D. & Zhu, Q. Synthesis and Highly Photocatalytic Properties of Cu/Fe3O4 Nanospheres and Nanoparticles. JOM 69, 1701–1705 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-017-2438-z

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