Solvothermal Synthesis of Magnetic CoFe2O4/Carbon Nanocomposites with Superior Visible Light Photocatalysis

In order to enhance the photocatalytic performance of CoFe 2 O 4, carbon (C) was exploited to modify it through developing a CoFe 2 O 4 /C heterojunction photocatalyst. CoFe 2 O 4 /C nanocomposites with varying C contents were fabricated through a simple one-pot solvothermal approach by adjusting the dosage of glucose. The photocatalytic capabilities of the as-prepared CoFe 2 O 4 /C nanocomposites were evaluated by the reduction of Cr(VI) under visible light exposure. The experimental results indicated that all of the as-prepared CoFe 2 O 4 /C products had substantially greater photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction activity than CoFe 2 O 4, with CoFe 2 O 4 /C-2 being the optimal photocatalyst. CoFe 2 O 4 /C-2 not only showed a photocatalytic activity 6.7 times greater than that of CoFe 2 O 4, but it also outperformed a considerable number of previously reported visible light photocatalysts. Furthermore, the appropriate optimization of the photocatalytic experiment parameters could further improve the photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction rate of CoFe 2 O 4 /C-2. In addition, CoFe 2 O 4 /C-2 also exhibited superior photocatalytic stability. Another advantageous feature of CoFe 2 O 4 /C-2 is its easy recoverability from water through a simple magnetic attraction. The remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity of CoFe 2 O 4 /C-2 is primarily ascribed to the improved separation and transfer of photogenerated charges, which is a result of its p–n heterojunction structure. This study offers a valuable reference for the synthesis and application of a highly efficient magnetic CoFe 2 O 4 /C photocatalyst for treating Cr(VI) contamination in water bodies.