Magnetically recoverable Cu2O/Fe3O4 composite photocatalysts: Fabrication and photocatalytic activity

A magnetically separable Cu2O/Fe3O4 magnetic composite photocatalyst was synthesized in large quantities by a fast and simple route. The as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the Cu2O/Fe3O4 composite photocatalysts were tested using methyl orange (MO) degradation reaction under visible light irradiation (100 mW/cm(2)) and demonstrated to have a high photocatalytic efficiency toward the decomposition of MO under visible light irradiation with good recyclability. (C) 2013 Yong Guo. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.