A facile hydrothermal deposition of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles on TiO2 nanotube arrays for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Abstract

ZnFe₂O₄ coupled TiO₂ nanotube arrays (ZnFe₂O₄–TiO₂ NTAs) were synthesized by modifying TiO₂ nanotube arrays with ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles. Self-organized TiO₂ NTAs with a tube diameter of 100 nm and length of 400 nm were prepared by an electrochemical anodization method. ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of TiO₂ nanotubes through a facile hydrothermal route. The modification of ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles extended the photoresponse of TiO₂ nanotube arrays into the visible light region. Under visible light irradiation, a 12-fold enhancement in photocatalytic activity was achieved using ZnFe₂O₄–TiO₂ NTAs compared with TiO₂ NTAs. The enhanced photogenerated electron–hole separation and improved transfer of photogenerated charge carriers were responsible for the increased photocatalytic activity of ZnFe₂O₄–TiO₂ NTAs. This approach provides a simple method for synthesizing a variety of nanoparticle-modified one-dimensional nanomaterials.