Magnetic ZnFe2O4 Nanocubes: Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity With Visible Light/H2O2

ZnFe2O4 nanocubes with high magnetization were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The structural, optical, morphology, and magnetic properties were investigated. The as-prepared sample exhibited a uniform cubic morphology with a high-saturation magnetization of 94.6 emu/g, therefore, can be easily collected from an aqueous solution using a magnet. Further investigation on the photocatalytic degradation of chlorotetracycline (CTC) using ZnFe2O4 nanocubes revealed a good photodegradation performance in a visible light/H2O2 system. The degradation efficiency of the ZnFe2O4 nanocubes on CTC remains above 45% even after three recycling circles. Therefore, the hydrothermally prepared ZnFe2O4 nanocubes can be considered as a promising magnetically retrievable photocatalyst under visible light irradiation.