Photo-catalyst and magnetic nanocomposites: hydrothermal preparation of core-shell Fe sub(3)O sub(4)bS for photo-degradation of toxic dyes

In this work, at the first stage Fe sub(3)O sub(4) and mono-disperse lead sulfide (PbS) nanostructures were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method at water as a green solvent. Then Fe sub(3)O sub(4)bS nanocomposites were prepared by facile chemical procedure. The effect of concentration, temperature, precipitating agent, capping agent on the morphology and particle size of the products was investigated. Glucose was used as green, safe, cost-effective and bio-compatible capping agent. The prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron microscopy transmission and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Vibration sample magnetometer approves the super paramagnetic property of the magnetite and nanocomposites. The photo-catalytic behaviour of nanocomposites was evaluated using the degradation of four azo dyes (acid black, acid brown, acid violet and acid blue) under ultraviolet light irradiation. The results introduce a nanocomposite with applicable magnetic and photocatalytic performance.