The enhanced properties in photocatalytic wastewater treatment: sulfanilamide (SAM) photodegradation and Cr6+ photoreduction on magnetic Ag/ZnFe2O4 nanoarchitectures

Abstract Ag/ZnFe2O4 nanoarchitectures composed of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles loading onto Ag nanowires were fabricated by hydrothermal method. The Ag/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites possessed excellent performance in simulated photocatalytic wastewater treatment like sulfanilamide (SAM) photodegradation and Cr6+ photoreduction. The improvement of photoactivity could be ascribed to the successful formation of Schottky interface between ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and Ag nanowires and the enhanced light absorption ability in visible light region with modified energy band structures, which make further efforts to the ameliorate separation and improved mobility of photo-induced charge carriers with enhanced performance in photocatalysis. The Ag/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites exhibited outstanding photoactivity than single component and more importantly, the unique magnetic properties enabled the Ag/ZnFe2O4 photocatalysts to be recycled easily with the aid of external magnetic field, which make it possible for practical applications.