Synthesis of a magnetic micro/nano FexOy-CeO2 composite and its application for degradation of hexachlorobenzene

A micrometer-sized nanostructured, magnetic, ball-like Fe x O y -CeO 2 composite was synthesized through an ethylene-glycol mediated process. The synthesized samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy combined with energydisperse X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. In the synthesis system, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and urea were found to play significant roles in the formation of the micrometer-sized spherical architecture of the precursor. The details of morphology and particle size could be changed with the initial concentration of Fe(NO 3 ) 3 ·9H 2 O and Ce(NO 3 ) 3 ·6H 2 O as the reactants. The magnetic Fe x O y -CeO 2 composite with a similar morphology was readily obtained by calcination from the precursor. The characterization of transmission electron microscopy showed the calcined ball-like architecture was a highly porous structure consisting of many nanoparticles. Because of the micrometer-sized nanostructure and the multi-components as well as the magnetism, the as-obtained Fe x O y -CeO 2 composite showed better activity and potentially easy recovery for the harmless degradation of hexachlorobenzene (HCB).