A magnetically recoverable photocatalyst prepared by supporting TiO2 nanoparticles on a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocluster core@fibrous silica shell nanocompositeElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: TEM images of the as-prepared SION and SION@FSS; nitrogen adsorption desorption isotherms of SION@FSS, SION@FSS@Am-TiO2 and SION@FSS@A-TiO2; EDS of SION@FSS, SION@FSS@Am-TiO2 and SION@FSS@A-TiO2; TEM image of the SION@FSS@A-TiO2 after the detoxification of water; and calibratio

• Main Authors: Seo, Bokyung, Lee, Chaedong, Yoo, Donggeon, Kofinas, Peter, Piao, Yuanzhe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-02-2017
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra27907d

A magnetically recoverable photocatalyst was prepared by supporting TiO
2
nanoparticles on a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocluster (SION) core@fibrous silica shell (FSS) nanocomposite. Using the raspberry-shaped magnetic iron oxide nanocluster core as a seed, FSS with uniform thickness was grown directly on the core surface by a sol-gel process. The preparation method was optimized to have a single core for each nanoparticle by adjusting the amount of the silica source. The FSS has a fanning structure of radial pores, which enable large amounts of TiO
2
nanoparticles to be supported easily on the pore surface. SION@FSS with amorphous TiO
2
loaded on the pores (SION@FSS@Am-TiO
2
) was crystallized to the anatase phase (SION@FSS@A-TiO
2
), which shows good photocatalytic effect. When used for water purification, SION@FSS@A-TiO
2
shows faster dye degradation kinetics than that of commercial P25 nanoparticles. The as-prepared SION@FSS@A-TiO
2
photocatalyst could be magnetically recovered easily from water after decolorization of the dye.
A magnetically recoverable photocatalyst was prepared by supporting TiO
2
nanoparticles on a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocluster core@fibrous silica shell nanocomposite.