Photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of Au-decorated Fe3O4@mTiO(2) core-shell microspheres

• A facile approach for the fabrication of Au-decorated mesoporous Fe3O4@TiO2 (Fe3O4@mTiO(2)) core-shell microspheres is demonstrated. The protocol involved the coating of a successive layer of TiO2 onto a magnetic Fe3O4 core via a sol-gel process, followed by TiO2 crystallization and mesopore-formation by a hydrothermal treatment, and then the deposition of Au nanoparticles onto Fe3O4@mTiO(2) microspheres through an in situ reduction of perchloric acid. The mesoporous microspheres (Fe3O4@mTiO(2)) showed stronger magnetic properties than the dense sample (Fe3O4@TiO2) before the hydrothermal treatment. The size and loading amount of Au nanoparticles were controlled by the reduction temperature and concentration of Au salt, respectively. Compared to unmodified Fe3O4@mTiO(2) microspheres, Fe3O4@mTiO(2)@Au microspheres showed higher photocatalytic activity for organic degradation and antibacterial action in water. These core-shell Fe3O4@mTiO(2)@Au microspheres can serve as efficient and recyclable photocatalysts, which have promising applications in environmental treatment.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Fe3O4 microsphere

Mesoporous TiO2

Core-shell structure

Au nanoparticle

Photocatalysis

Antibacterial effect

Recycle

Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot nanoteknologi och funktionella material

Engineering Science with specialization in Nanotechnology and Functional Materials

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)