Synthesis of conjugated polyvinyl chloride derivative coupled MnFe2O4 nanoparticles as a magnetic visible-light photocatalyst

MnFe 2 O 4 is a potential magnetic visible-light photocatalyst , but its photocatalytic efficiency is badly restricted by the high recombination rate of its photogenerated electrons and holes. This work used conjugated polyvinyl chloride derivative (CPVC) to couple MnFe 2 O 4 to boost its photocatalytic efficiency. CPVC/MnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites with an n-p heterojunction structure were prepared by an easily implementable three-step approach. When applied to the photocatalytic reduction of aqueous hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) with the help of visible-light (λ > 420 nm), the CPVC/MnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite synthesized under the optimized conditions (CPVC/MnFe 2 O 4 -2) demonstrated not only superior photocatalytic activity than MnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles and many other recently reported visible-light photocatalysts, but also remarkable durability. In addition, CPVC/MnFe 2 O 4 -2 also had strong magnetism and could be effectively separated from the solution by attraction with a magnet. According to the results of structure and photoelectrochemical characterization, the superior photocatalytic activity of CPVC/MnFe 2 O 4 -2 largely results from its bigger specific surface area and improved photogenerated charge separation and transfer capability. This work suggests that a new cost-effective, efficient and magnetically recoverable visible-light photocatalyst may be developed by coupling MnFe 2 O 4 with CPVC.