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Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2–Ag cubes with core/shell/shell nano-structure: synthesis, characterization and efficient photo-catalytic for phenol degradation

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Abstract

In this research, Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2–Ag (FST–Ag) cubes were synthesized via a facile method. FST–Ag cubes have been characterized by some techniques contain field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analysis, Transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The photocatalytic degradation of phenol was examined and reaction parameters were determined for best catalyst performance. Results revealed FST–Ag cubes have been successfully synthesized with Core/Shell/shell Nano-structure. The higher surface to volume ratio of the cube shape increased photo-catalytic properties. The influence of various parameters on photo-catalytic performance, like pH, photo-catalyst dose and initial concentration of phenol were examined. Catalyst dose of 0.2 g/L was obtained as the optimum amount. The degradation efficiency of phenol was increased in acidic solution pH. The removal efficiency was decreased with increasing initial phenol concentration. So, the highest degradation efficiency of phenol with photo-catalytic UV/Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2–Ag process was caused 98.1% degradation at initial phenol concentration of 50 mg/L, solution pH of 3 during 150 min contact time, while 90.6% degradation of phenol was achieved under UV/Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2 without Ag particles. The FST–Ag cubes are recovered and could be re-used again.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Biosphere Technology Company and all experiments were performed in the Environmental Laboratory of the Company.

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  1. Biosphere Technology Company, Environmental Laboratory, Abhar, Iran

    Fardin Ghasemy-Piranloo, Saeideh Dadashian & Fatemeh Bavarsiha

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  1. Fardin Ghasemy-Piranloo
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Ghasemy-Piranloo, F., Dadashian, S. & Bavarsiha, F. Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2–Ag cubes with core/shell/shell nano-structure: synthesis, characterization and efficient photo-catalytic for phenol degradation. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 12757–12768 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01641-1

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