Magnetic
ZnFe2O4–C3N4 hybrids
were successfully synthesized through a simple reflux
treatment of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) (ca.
19.1 nm) with graphitic C3N4 sheets in methanol
at 90 °C, and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal
analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission
electron microscopy, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.
Also, the catalytic activities of heterogeneous ZnFe2O4–C3N4 catalysts were evaluated
in photo-Fenton discoloration toward Orange II using H2O2 as an oxidant under visible light (λ > 420
nm)
irradiation. The reaction kinetics, degradation mechanism, and catalyst
stability, as well as the roles of ZnFe2O4 and
C3N4 in photoreaction, were comprehensively
studied. It was found that the ZnFe2O4–C3N4 photocatalysts presented remarkable catalytic
ability at neutral conditions, which is a great advantage over the
traditional Fenton system (Fe2+/H2O2). The ZnFe2O4–C3N4 hybrid (mass ratio of ZnFe2O4/g-C3N4 = 2:3) exhibits the highest degradation rate of 0.012
min–1, which is nearly 2.4 times higher than that
of the simple mixture of g-C3N4 and ZnFe2O4 NPs. g-C3N4 acted as not
only a p-conjugated material for the heterojunction formation with
ZnFe2O4, but also a catalyst for the decomposition
of H2O2 to ·OH radicals. The heterogeneous
ZnFe2O4–C3N4 hybrid
exhibited stable performance without losing activity after five successive
runs, showing a promising application for the photo-oxidative degradation
of organic contaminants.
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