A new efficient visible-light-driven composite photocatalyst comprising ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and conjugated polymer from the dehydrochlorination of polyvinyl chloride

This communication reports the development of a new efficient visible-light-driven composite photocatalyst comprising ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and conjugated polymer (CPVC) from the dehydrochlorination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). ZnFe2O4/CPVC nanocomposites were synthesized via three main steps: (i) the synthesis of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles by a sol-gel method; (ii) the adsorption of PVC in tetrahydrofuran solution by ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles to form ZnFe2O4/PVC nanocomposites; and (iii) the dehydrochlorination of PVC in the ZnFe2O4/PVC nanocomposites by heating at 150°C for 2h. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy characterization revealed that the as-synthesized product was core/shell structured ZnFe2O4/CPVC nanocomposites. The photocatalytic results demonstrated that the ZnFe2O4/CPVC nanocomposites had much higher photocatalytic activity than ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) under visible-light (λ>420nm) irradiation. Thus, ZnFe2O4/CPVC nanocomposites are promising for use as a new efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst. •A new visible-light photocatalyst was prepared from ZnFe2O4 and polyvinyl chloride.•The new photocatalyst was of core/shell structure ZnFe2O4/CPVC nanocomposites.•The new photocatalyst had much higher activity than ZnFe2O4 in Cr(VI) reduction.