Synthesis and characterization of TiO2-Fe3O4 nanocomposite as a catalyst for the photo degradation of Congo red dye

Abstract

   In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water. Semiconductors like TiO2 have been employed as photocatalysts for pollutants such as textile dyes. The research included preparation of  TiO2 nanoparticles by hydrothermal method using the autoclave reactor by reacting isopropane and  titanium tetrachloride . Then, preparing  the binary TiO2 –Fe3O4 nanocompsite  by deposition titanium dioxide nanoparticles  on the surface of iron oxide . Characterization  of the prepared materials  by different techniques  then  studying  the activity  of the composite  as catalysts in the photo-catalytic degradation of congo red  dye . The structural, surface ,and chemical properties of the prepared nano materials, were studied and characterized using XRD spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron  microscope, (FE-SEM), EDS analysis, BET-BJH surface analysis . The energy gap was studied, using DRS technique, for the binary composite, the energy gap value of the binary composite was (2.8 eV) compared to the energy gap of pure titanium dioxide (3.2 eV). The photocatalytic degradation efficiency was studied in both the visible and the ultraviolet region.It was found that the photo degradation efficiency of the dye, using a radiation source within the visible region was (91.09%) compared to the efficiency, of (70.02%) using Pure titanium dioxide.