Magnetic Fe3O4@C@Cu2O composites with bean-like core/shell nanostructures: Synthesis, properties and application in recyclable photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants

Magnetic Fe3O4@C@Cu2O composites with a bean-like core/shell nanostructure have been successfully synthesized by a self-assembly approach. The synthetic route is feasible, low-cost and green. The size of the as-prepared magnetic composites is about 420 nm and the shells are composed of several nanoparticles in the range of 5∼10 nm. Interestingly, the carbonaceous layer with bound hydrophilic groups inherited from the starting materials acted as both the linker and the stabilizer between Fe3O4 and Cu2O. The Fe3O4@C@Cu2O composites exhibit ferromagnetic behaviour, and good dispersibility in aqueous solution. Importantly, the bean-like core/shell composites show universal and powerful visible-light-photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), and alizarin red (AR) relative to commercial Cu2O and Degussa P-25 powders. These novel magnetic composites may find applications in dye water treatment, degradation of organic pollutants and environmental cleaning etc.