Multi-Component Mesocrystalline Nanoparticles with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Min Jun Ko, Bum Chul Park, Thomas Myeongseok Koo, Yoo Sang Jeon, Myeong Soo Kim, Young Keun Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mesocrystals, consisting of small subunits, have gained research interests owing to their ability to simultaneously modify material-specific properties and interactions among subunits. However, despite these unique characteristics, most mesocrystals are composed of a single material, and there is a disjunction between academic discovery and practical application. In this study, the synthesis of multi-component mesocrystalline nanoparticles composed of Fe3O4, ZnFe2O4, and ZnO subunits using a polymerization induced heterogeneous nucleation method is reported. The structure has small ZnFe2O4 and ZnO nanocrystals covering the Fe3O4 crystallites. It exhibits not only magnetic and catalytic properties determined by the size of each subunit nanocrystal, but also enhances photocatalytic and colloidal properties that originates because of its crowded arrangement. The magnetically recoverable catalysts exhibit remarkable photodegradation of organic molecules under the irradiation of visible light for 1 h; thus, improving its applicability in purifying a large amount of wastewater during the daytime.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2004696
JournalSmall
Volume16
Issue number51
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020 Dec 22

Keywords

  • catalytic behavior
  • magnetic separation
  • mesocrystalline nanoparticles
  • photo-Fenton
  • visible light absorption

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biomaterials
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)

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