Synthesis and characterization of TiO2-Fe3O4 nanocomposite as a catalyst for the photo degradation of Congo red dye

Abstract In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water. Semiconductors like TiO2 have been employed as photocatalysts for pollutants such as textile dyes. The research included preparation of TiO2 nanoparticles by hydrothermal method using the autoclave reactor by reacting isopropane and titanium tetrachloride . Then, preparing the binary TiO2 –Fe3O4 nanocompsite by deposition titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the surface of iron oxide . Characterization of the prepared materials by different techniques then studying the activity of the composite as catalysts in the photo-catalytic degradation of congo red dye . The structural, surface ,and chemical properties of the prepared nano materials, were studied and characterized using XRD spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope, (FE-SEM), EDS analysis, BET-BJH surface analysis . The energy gap was studied, using DRS technique, for the binary composite, the energy gap value of the binary composite was (2.8 eV) compared to the energy gap of pure titanium dioxide (3.2 eV). The photocatalytic degradation efficiency was studied in both the visible and the ultraviolet region.It was found that the photo degradation efficiency of the dye, using a radiation source within the visible region was (91.09%) compared to the efficiency, of (70.02%) using Pure titanium dioxide.Keywords: Titanium, dioxide ,Fe3O4,nanocomposite, Photodegradation., conog. re