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Photocatalytic activity of anatase–nickel ferrite heterostructures
Author(s) -
Šutka Andris,
Millers Martins,
Döbelin Nicola,
Pärna Rainer,
Vanags Martins,
Maiorov Mihael,
Kleperis Janis,
Käämbre Tanel,
Joost Urmas,
Nõmmiste Ergo,
Kisand Vambola,
Knite Maris
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201431681
Subject(s) - anatase , materials science , photocatalysis , chemical engineering , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , nanoparticle , spinel , ferrite (magnet) , nickel , inorganic chemistry , metallurgy , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , catalysis , biochemistry , engineering
The simple co‐precipitation route was used to couple commercial TiO 2 anatase nanopowder with nickel ferrite (NiFe 2 O 4 ). The morphology and the crystalline structure of composite nanoparticles were characterised by TEM, N 2 adsorption‐desorption, XRD and Rietveld refinement, XPS and XAS. The optical and magnetic properties were investigated. After co‐precipitation NiFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles, composed of spinel ferrite crystal phase, were formed on the surface of TiO 2 anatase nanopowder. The TiO 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 composite oxide demonstrated large specific surface area, high visible light absorption efficiency and efficient charge carrier separation, compared to pristine anatase TiO 2 or pristine NiFe 2 O 4 , representatively. The obtained TiO 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 composite oxides, with different nickel ferrite contents (5, 10, 25, 50 and 75 wt%) showed decent visible light photocatalytic efficiency, up to three times higher than pure anatase or pure NiFe 2 O 4 . However, TiO 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 composite oxides did not demonstrate high magnetic properties.