The Study of Nanostructure, Magnetic Properties and Photocatalytic Behavior of Fe3O4/Ag Nanocomposites Synthesized by Microwave Method

We prepared samples including nanoparticles of Fe3O4 via co-precipitation method with microwave heating using water and ethylene glycol as solvent. The procedure was repeated with various natural surfactants. XRD and SEM analysis was performed to determine the nanostructural characteristics of nanoparticles. SEM analysis disclosed that the type of surfactant and solvent will affect the nanostructures. In the next stage, Fe3O4/Ag nanocomposite was prepared using magnetite nanoparticles and AgNO3 by microwave method and its nanostructure was defined by SEM and TEM analysis. The mean diameter was determined between 40-55 nm from SEM software and 44-64 nm by Motic software for particles of all samples. Likewise, the purity of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and prepared nanocomposite were documented by FT-IR spectrometry. All the products had pure nanoparticles of Ag and Fe3O4 which was agreed with XRD results. To evaluate the magnetic parameters of samples, VSM analysis were done. Hysteresis curves disclosed that all the products have superparamagnetic properties. We also assessed the photocatalytic potential of prepared nanocomposites using methyl orange and congo red solutions under UV radiation and the effect of concentration of absorbent, pH of solutions and the time of irradiation on the color removing was investigated. This study confirms that these Fe3O4/Ag nanocomposites can be used as recyclable photo-catalysts for water refinery in home and industries. The best result for color removing was for 0.9 gr/lit absorbent, pH=2 and t= 80 min for irradiation.