title: Magnetic core-shell ZnFe2O4/ZnS nanocomposites for photocatalytic application under visible light.
abstract: Magnetic core-shell ZnFe2O4/ZnS composites were synthesized through a two-step chemical process including the hydrothermal and the co-precipitation methods. The structural characterization revealed that the composites consisted of a layer of ZnS clusters on the surface of ZnFe2O4nanoparticles. The band gap energy of the composite was estimated to be 2.2eV through the Kubelka-Munk plot, implying the possible application as a photocatalyst under the visible light radiation. The improved photocatalytic efficiency of the ZnFe2O4/ZnS composites was confirmed through the photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange. The increased absorption of the visible light and the enhanced separation of the electron-hole pairs due to the relative energy band positions in ZnFe2O4and ZnS are considered as the main advantages. Additionally, the moderate magnetization of the ZnFe2O4core insured the easy magnetic collection of the composite materials without affecting the photocatalytic performance. Our results showed that ZnFe2O4-based nanocomposites could be used as an effective and magnetic retrievable photocatalyst.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Oxide Research Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 17035, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Pil Sun
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Oxide Research Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 17035, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amaranatha Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Oxide Research Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 17035, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: YueFa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Protein Research Center for Bio-Industry, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 17035, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Protein Research Center for Bio-Industry, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 17035, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Oxide Research Center, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 17035, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chunliliu@hufs.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chunli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Core-shell; Magnetically retrievable photocatalyst; ZnFe(2)O(4); ZnS