In the present research, Fe3O4/TiO2 magnetic photo-catalytic nanocomposites
with a core/shell structure were successfully synthesized using two
techniques of ultrasonic and St?ber. In this way, iron oxide (II, III)
nanoparticles as soft magnetic cores of this composite were prepared by
utilizing a chemical method assisted by ultrasound with a Fe+3/Fe+2 molar
ratio of 1.5 under the nitrogen atmosphere. Thereafter, titanium oxide
coating was performed on Fe3O4 nanoparticles by using tetrabutyl
orthotitanate (TBOT) and titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) precursors. The
resultant nanostructures were characterized by means of X-ray powder
diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy
dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM),
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy
(TEM). Through findings obtained from TEM examinations, the formation of
core/shell nanostructure was confirmed in the prepared Fe3O4/TiO2
composites. Analysis of magnetic properties revealed that titanium oxide
coating on iron oxide nanoparticles reduces saturation magnetization (Ms).
The values of saturation magnetization for Fe3O4 powder and Fe3O4/TiO2
nanocomposite powders achieved via ultrasonic and St?ber methods were 60, 23
and 9 emu/g, respectively. Photo-catalytic properties of Fe3O4/TiO2
nanostructures were evaluated by the use of methylene blue dye under UV
light. Results indicated that Fe3O4/TiO2 composite obtained by the St?ber
method has a better photo-catalytic property as well as a decreased but
acceptable magnetic separation. Degradation of methylene blue dye in the
presence of photo-catalytic powder prepared by ultrasonic and St?ber
procedures was 61 and 69 %, respectively, within 90 minutes of UV light
exposure.