Photo-catalyst Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposites: green synthesis and investigation of magnetic nanoparticles coated on cotton

We have successfully synthesized Fe3O4 and TiO2 nanoparticles in the presence of pomegranate juice. We then prepared multi-functional cotton fabrics coated with Fe3O4/TiO2 (10:10 %) nanocomposite, using pad-dry-cure method. Various techniques were employed to characterize the properties of fabrics before and after coating like X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM) illustrated super-paramagnetic behavior of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The photo-catalytic behavior of Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposites was evaluated using the degradation of three azo-dyes under ultraviolet light irradiation. Fe3O4-TiO2 nanostructures were added to cotton and the results show that nanocomposites have applicable magnetic and photocatalytic performance.