Magnetic Fe3O4@C/Cu and Fe3O4@CuO core–shell composites constructed from MOF-based materials and their photocatalytic properties under visible light

Abstract Magnetic Fe 3 O 4 @C/Cu and Fe 3 O 4 @CuO nanocomposites with a core/shell structure have been successfully synthesized via direct calcinations of magnetic Fe 3 O 4 @HKUST-1 in different atmosphere (N 2 and air). The morphology, structure, magnetic and porous properties of the as-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), vibration sample magnetometer (VSM), and N 2 sorption–desorption isotherms. The results show that the nanocomposite materials consist of a Fe 3 O 4 core and a C/Cu (or CuO) shell. Fe 3 O 4 @C/Cu nanocomposites show more powerful photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation in the presence of H 2 O 2 in comparison with Fe 3 O 4 @CuO nanocomposites and the most common photocatalyst titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), as well as the recently developed organic semiconductor graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ). Meanwhile, the catalyst is stable during the reaction and the high Ms value (39.2 emu g −1 ) of the as-prepared magnetic composites is favorable for the separation and recycling of the catalyst from the reaction media after the catalytic reactions.