A simple synthetic technique to produce ZnO/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanostructures and application as a photocatalyst

In this study, a simple technique was used for synthesizing one-dimensional ZnO/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanostructures (NSs) through heat treatment under vacuum by using a magnetic field at a temperature of 200 °C for 1 h. The photocatalytic effect of the NSs were studied by decomposing methyl orange (MO) dye (5 mg/L, pH = 8.1) under ultraviolet illumination. The experimental results indicated that a 33-mg/L ZnO/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 NS-containing film on glass could reduce the MO concentration by 37% in 100 min, and the synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 NS-containing films could be reused to degrade MO solution. Moreover, 0.1 g/L of ZnO/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 NS-containing powder exhibited an excellent photocatalytic effect and reduced the MO concentration by almost 90% in 100 min.