Nickel ferrite/TiO2 Nanofibrous Composite: Enhanced Photocatalytic Dye Degradation Under Visible Light

Abstract

A highly efficient NiFe2O4/TiO2 nanofibrous photocatalyst was prepared by a simultaneous solution blow spinning method. The hybrid fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and magnetometry. The photocatalytic properties were evaluated using Crystal violet (CV) and Congo red (CR) dyes under visible light irradiation. Fibers calcined at 600 ºC and 700 ºC showed the highest CV decolorization (77%). On the other hand, for CR, the best performance was encountered with the photocatalysts heat-treated at 500 ºC, which exhibited photocatalytic degradation of 87% after only 30 min of visible light irradiation. The high reaction rates (0.018 to 0.067 min-1) explain the fast decolorization yielded by the combined effect of adsorption and photocatalytic processes. Moreover, recyclability assays showed stable CR dye efficiency after five recycling cycles. Therefore, the NiFe2O4/TiO2 nanofibers present a high potential for application in the decolorization treatment of wastewater from the textile industry.