Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange Dye by Using the Core-Shell Structure of Fe3O4@ZnS Nanoparticles

Abstract

A straightforward and highly efficient method was developed for the synthesis of Fe₃O₄@ZnS core-shell nanoparticles (NPs). These synthesized materials were subsequently utilized for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes. The structural characteristics of the prepared sample were meticulously investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline phase formation in the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, while a study in the Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) mode emphasized their strong ferromagnetic behavior. The degradation of dyes was comprehensively studied using UV-Vis analyses, taking into account factors such as pH and initial dye concentration in the decolorization process. The synthesized Fe₃O₄@ZnS core-shell nanostructure underwent thorough characterization using XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, SEM, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and VSM mode in PPMS. Furthermore, the reusability of the catalyst was explored, yielding promising results. The findings demonstrated the efficient photocatalytic degradation of MB and MO dyes under UV-visible irradiation, achieving significant results within 30-minute intervals.