Facile synthesis of hierarchical NiO/NiFe2O4 microsphere composite as efficient visible photocatalyst for 2,4-DCP degradation

• Published in: Rare metals Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 1580 - 1588
• Main Authors: Shaheen, Shabana, Xu, Shuai, Bian, Ji, Zada, Amir, Zhang, Zi-Qing, Qu, Yang, Jing, Li-Qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Nonferrous Metals Society of China 01-04-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomaterials; Catalytic activity; Charge transfer; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coupling; Energy; Light irradiation; Magnetic properties; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Microspheres; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nickel ferrites; Nickel oxides; Original Article; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photodegradation; Physical Chemistry; Recyclability; NiO/NiFe; microspheres; composite; Charge separation; Visible-light photocatalysis; NiFe; O; 2,4-Dichlorophenol degradation
• ISSN: 1001-0521; 1867-7185
• DOI: 10.1007/s12598-023-02585-6

It is highly desired to develop efficient photocatalysts with recycling property for practical application to degrade toxic pollutants. Herein, nanosheet-assembled NiFe
2
O
4
microspheres with commendable activity are successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal reaction with NH
4
F as the modifier, and their photoactivities are further improved by coupling with NiO through an in situ growth process. The optimized nickel oxide (NiO)/nickel ferrite (NiFe
2
O
4
) microsphere composite (5NiO/NFO-4) exhibits a satisfactory photocatalytic activity for 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) degradation under visible-light irradiation, which is attributed to its wide visible-light response, well-designed hierarchical structure and enhanced charge transfer and separation by coupling NiO as a high-level energy platform to accept electrons. Moreover, it is found that the NiO/NiFe
2
O
4
microsphere photocatalysts can be easily collected and recycled owing to the distinctive magnetic properties. This work provides a feasible route to rational design visible-light-driven photocatalysts with high-activity for environmental remediation and purification with good recyclability.
Graphical abstract