Synthesis of magnetically separable core–shell structured NixFe1−xFe2O4@TiO2 nanoparticles photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes

In this paper, the core–shell structured NiFe2O4@TiO2 nanoparticles and nanochains as photocatalysts were successfully prepared through hydrothermal and hydrolysis method. The as-prepared core–shell structure was composed of a magnetic NiFe2O4 core and photocatalytic titanium oxide coating shell. SEM and TEM images characterized the morphology of NiFe2O4@TiO2 nanoparticles. Moreover, the results of XRD patterns proved that the TiO2 coating shell consisted of anatase. The VSM measurements showed that the saturation magnetization values of NiFe2O4 and NiFe2O4@TiO2 nanoparticles was 65 and 53 emu/g, respectively. The photocatalyst of NiFe2O4@TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited the outstanding recyclable performance for RhB. And, the photo_degradation ration of maintained 69 % after the photocatalyst experienced ten photocatalysis experiments, which is better than that of Fe3O4@TiO2 photocatalysts.