A Novel SnO2/ZnFe2O4 Magnetic Photocatalyst with Excellent Photocatalytic Performance in Rhodamine B Removal
Yu Hao, Yi Xiao, Xiuzhu Liu, Jiawei Ma, Yuan Lü, Ziang Chang, Dayong Luo, Lin Li, Qi Feng, Longjun Xu, Yongkui Huang
Abstract
In this study, we prepared the SnO2/ZnFe2O4 (SZ) composite magnetic photocatalyst via a two-step hydrothermal method. Structural and performance analyses revealed that SZ-5 with a ZnFe2O4 mass ratio of 5% (SZ-5) exhibited optimal photocatalytic activity, achieving a 72.6% degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution within 120 min. SZ-5 consisted of irregular nano blocks of SnO2 combined with spherical nanoparticles of ZnFe2O4, with a saturated magnetization intensity of 1.27 emu/g. Moreover, the specific surface area of SnO2 loaded with ZnFe2O4 increased, resulting in a decreased forbidden bandwidth and expanded light absorption range. The construction of a Z-type heterojunction structure between SnO2 and ZnFe2O4 facilitated the migration of photogenerated charges, reduced the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs, and enhanced electrical conductivity. During the photocatalytic reaction, RhB was degraded by·OH, O2−, and h+, in which O2− played a major role.