Decreasing charge recombination by magnetic trap of iron-carbon (Fe-AC) composite for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Electronic properties of composite Fe and activated carbon (AC) were determined by using X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and reflection electron energy loss (REELS), structural properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and photo-catalytic performance by ultra violet visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The intensity of low loss spectrum shows surface state at 5.42 eV is decreased with increasing the amount of AC indicated the Fe successfully oxidizes to form iron oxide. The bandgap was increased from 2.2 eV for 10% AC to 4.3 eV for 25% AC indicated the absorption wavelength shifted from the visible region to ultra-violet region. The magnetic properties and porosity were increased with increasing the amount of AC in composites and show successfully used, as a magnetic trap of the charge (electron and hole) for producing radical atoms. The magnetic pore transformed from the disordered to ordered nature in the periodic structure was used to accelerate the degradation from 70.15% for 10% AC to 80% for 25% AC for 60 min. This study shows magnetic trap of composite Fe-AC materials useful for enhanced photocatalytic performance.