Hybrid Magnetic Core-Shell Nanophotocatalysts for Environmental Applications

Technical Report · Fri Jul 29 00:00:00 EDT 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1281782· OSTI ID:1281782

Gaulden, Patrick ^[1]; Murph, Simona Hunyadi ^[2]

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1. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
2. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL); Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy

This research study describes a facile sol-gel method to creating hybrid iron (III) oxide/silica/titania nanomaterials decorated with gold nanoparticles for use in environmental applications. The multi-functional composition of the nanomaterials allows for photocatalyzed reactions to occur in both the visible and the UV range. The morphologies, elemental composition, and surface charge of the nanoparticles were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Phase Analysis Light Scattering (PALS), respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized hybrid nanoparticles for breaking down a model analyte, methyl orange (MO), was then evaluated using UV-Vis Spectroscopy. The efficiency of the photocatalyst under UV light irradiation was measured and compared to other well-studied nanophotocatalysts, namely titanium oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles. The concentration dependence of both the photocatalyst and the analyte was also investigated. By utilizing the known UV-active properties of TiO₂, the magnetic properties of Fe₂O₃, the optical properties of gold in the visible range of the spectrum, and the high stability of silica, a novel, highly efficient photocatalyst that is active on a broad range of the spectrum (UV-Vis) can be created to destroy organic pollutants in wastewater streams.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1281782
• Report Number(s): SRNL-STI-2016-00429; TRN: US1601673
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
CATALYSTS
TITANIUM OXIDES
IRON OXIDES
GOLD
NANOPARTICLES
MAGNETIC CORES
METHYL ORANGE
SILICA
HYBRID SYSTEMS
NANOMATERIALS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VISIBLE RADIATION
WASTE WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
MAGNET CORES
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
CONCENTRATION RATIO
PHOTOCATALYSIS
SHELLS
SOL-GEL PROCESS
EFFICIENCY
MORPHOLOGY
STABILITY
SURFACES
ELECTRIC CHARGES
nanotechnology
titania
silica
magnetic
environmental