مشخصات پژوهش

The photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye was assessed in this investigation using a hydrothermal approach to create a ZnO/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite. Despite its high quantum efficiency and effective pollutant breakdown, zinc oxide (ZnO) has an underlying problem that prevents its real-world usage: its broad band gap. Due to this fundamental characteristic, it can only absorb ultraviolet light from the solar spectrum, which reduces its overall photocatalytic effectiveness. Using metallic elements to dope the ZnO lattice is a viable approach to address this problem [1]. At the same time, magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles provide a complementary set of benefits for water treatment, such as high electrical conductivity, environmental compatibility, and strong magnetic responsiveness. Their effectiveness comes from the combination of a great capacity for pollutant adsorption and the exceptional capacity to be easily separated from the reaction medium via an external magnetic field, which allows for the recovery and reuse of the catalyst [2]. We created a magnetic ZnO/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite by combining these two substances. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV-Vis spectroscopy, among other characterization methods, verified that the composite was effectively formed. The produced material had a high specific surface area, strong chemical and optical stability, and, most importantly, magnetic separability. Photocatalytic performance tests showed that the addition of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles greatly increased the degradation capability of ZnO. At a neutral pH of 7 and a catalyst loading of 15 mg, the nanocomposite achieved a 93.6% degradation of Rhodamine B in 60 minutes when exposed to visible light. These results demonstrate that the ZnO/Fe₃O₄ composite is a highly effective and recyclable photocatalyst, with the magnetic component directly addressing the challenge of catalyst separation while also contributing to improved photocatalytic activity.