ZnFe2O4-TiO2 Nanoparticles within Mesoporous MCM-41

Abstract EN

A novel nanocomposite ZnFe2O4-TiO2/MCM-41 (ZTM) was synthesized by a sol-gel method and characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), N2 adsorption-desorption, Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry.

The results confirmed the incorporation of ZnFe2O4-TiO2 nanoparticles inside the pores of the mesoporous MCM-41 host without destroying its integrity.

ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles can inhibit the transformation of anatase into rutile phase of TiO2.

Incorporation of ZnFe2O4-TiO2 within MCM-41 avoided the agglomeration of nanoparticles and reduced the band gap energy of TiO2 to enhance its visible light photocatalytic activity.

UV-vis absorption edges of ZTM nanocomposites redshifted with the increase of Zn/Ti molar ratio.

The nanocomposite approach could be a potential choice for enhancing the photoactivity of TiO2, indicating an interesting application in the photodegradation and photoelectric fields.