Preparation of magnetic g-C3N4/Fe3O4/TiO2 photocatalyst for visible light photocatalytic application

In this paper, we developed a novel strategy to fabricate magnetic g-C3N4/Fe3O4/TiO2 composite. The key in the preparation of magnetic g-C3N4/Fe3O4/TiO2 is the optimization of calcination temperature. The experimental results indicate that not only can Fe3O4 microspheres maintain the magnetic property but also the amorphous TiO2 can be transformed into anatase TiO2 under the calcination temperature of 400 °C. The magnetic properties, morphology, structure, composition and electrochemical properties of magnetic g-C3N4/Fe3O4/TiO2 composite were systematically investigated by a variety of characterization techniques. In the photocatalytic degradation experiment, the magnetic g-C3N4/Fe3O4/TiO2 composite shows excellent photocatalytic activity for both dinitro butyl phenol (DNBP) and methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation and can be separated easily by applying external magnetic field. The magnetic g-C3N4/Fe3O4/TiO2 composite also exhibits good repeatability as evidenced by the recycling experiments and is expected to be useful in the treatment of organic pollutants in wastewater.