A simple synthetic technique to produce ZnO/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanostructures and application as a photocatalyst

Abstract

In this study, a simple technique was used for synthesizing one-dimensional ZnO/Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ nanostructures (NSs) through heat treatment under vacuum by using a magnetic field at a temperature of 200 °C for 1 h. The photocatalytic effect of the NSs were studied by decomposing methyl orange (MO) dye (5 mg/L, pH = 8.1) under ultraviolet illumination. The experimental results indicated that a 33-mg/L ZnO/Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ NS-containing film on glass could reduce the MO concentration by 37% in 100 min, and the synthesized ZnO/Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ NS-containing films could be reused to degrade MO solution. Moreover, 0.1 g/L of ZnO/Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ NS-containing powder exhibited an excellent photocatalytic effect and reduced the MO concentration by almost 90% in 100 min. Highlights

• We report a simple, rapid, and low-temperature technique to synthesize ZnO/Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ nanostructures using a magnetic field.
• ZnO/Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ nanostructures show superior photocatalytic activity.
• Various metal-oxide nanostructures could potentially be grown using this simple technique.