Preparation of magnetic Fe3O4/SiO2/Bi2WO6 microspheres and their application in photocatalysis

Abstract Magnetic Fe3O4/SiO2/Bi2WO6 microspheres with photocatalytic properties have been synthesized using a silica layer for “bonding” (adhering Bi2WO6 to Fe3O4). The morphology, composition and magnetic properties of the Fe3O4/SiO2/Bi2WO6 composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and BET surface area analysis. The activity of the material in photocatalytic decoloration of aqueous rhodamine B (RhB) solution under visible light was evaluated. The results showed that Bi2WO6 combined well with the magnetic Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles. The Fe3O4/SiO2/Bi2WO6 composites were spherical in shape, having a mean size of 2 μm. The spent catalyst could be recycled with only slight decline in catalytic activity. It is envisaged that the stability, reusability, and magnetic nature of the Fe3O4/SiO2/Bi2WO6 catalyst warrants its application in photocatalysis.