One-Step Decoration of TiO₂ Nanotubes with Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Photocatalytic and Magnetic Properties

Abstract

This paper presents an effective hydrothermal route to decorate various types of anodic 1D TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2 NTs) with magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs), yielding a magnetically guidable and active photocatalyst. A unique portfolio of TiO2 NTs including single-tube, single-walled, and double-walled ones was used. Optimal conditions for uniform decoration of these nanotubes by Fe3O4 NPs (two different loadings) using a wet chemical synthesis based on an oleate hydrothermal approach were found. The resulting TiO2NTs@Fe3O4NPs were shown to be superparamagnetic at room temperature, to have a stable connection of NPs to NTs, and to have good magnetic response under an external applied magnetic field. The as-prepared materials were used as magnetically guidable photocatalyst for the decomposition of a model dye (methylene blue). Fe3O4 NPs enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 NTs under visible light. In principle, TiO2NTs@Fe3O4NPs could be used as magnetically guidable drug delivery system with photoinduced drug release.