One-step synthesis of novel PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO core-shell microspheres: An efficient photocatalyst under visible light irradiation

For the first time, novel multifunctional superparamagnetic PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO core-shell composite photocatalysts with different PANI: ZnO ratios were synthesized by Pickering emulsion route in one step in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles. PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO core-shell microspheres consist of PANI core which embedded with Fe3O4-OA (oleic acid modified Fe3O4) nanoparticles and tunable ZnO shell thickness. The resulting samples were thoroughly studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The catalytic activity of the as-prepared PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO core-shell microspheres is investigated by the degradation of MB under visible light irradiation. As expected, the as prepared PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO photocatalysts exhibit highly enhanced photocatalytic activities in the degradation of MB under visible light irradiation owing to fast separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. Significantly, the PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO catalysts can be separated from the reaction media by applying an external magnet, and can be reused for seven cycles without change in stability and degradation efficiency. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.