Multi-Component Mesocrystalline Nanoparticles with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

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.