Synthesis of Fe₃O₄@ZrO₂ core–shell nanoparticles through new approach and its solar light photocatalyst application

In this work, first, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by microwave assisted method with using of hydrazine and citric acid as reducing and surfactant agent, respectively. Then, as-prepared magnetite nanoparticles were used as a core and a shell of ZrO₂ nanoparticles were coated on the Fe₃O₄ seeds. Crystallographic and morphological characterizations of prepared samples have been carried out using X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the sample prepared has the structure of cubic reverse spinel of Fe₃O₄ in the core, shell contain the amorphous phase of zirconia and the size of as-synthesized Fe₃O₄@ZrO₂ nanoparticles is about 35–55 nm. The UV–Vis spectra showed that the sample has good absorption ability in the wavelength range of 300–800 nm. The photocatalytic activity of as-synthesized core–shell NPs were investigated in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) solution under solar light. Results showed that MO degradation is increased in the presence of Fe₃O₄@ZrO₂ nanoparticles and almost most of this organic dye is degraded after 240 min of irradiation by the solar light.