Fe3O4Anisotropic Nanostructures in Hydrogels: Efficient Catalysts for the Rapid Removal of Organic Dyes from Wastewater

Fe3 O4 anisotropic nanostructures that exhibit excellent catalytic performance are rarely used to catalyze Fenton-like reactions because of the inevitable drawbacks resulting from traditional preparation methods. In this study, a facile, nontoxic, water-based approach is developed for directly regulating a series of anisotropic morphologies of Fe3 O4 nanostructures in a hydrogel matrix. In having the advantages of both the catalytic activity of Fe3 O4 and the adsorptive capacity of an anionic polymer network, the hybrid nanocomposites have the capability to effect the rapid removal of cationic dyes, such as methylene blue, from water samples. Perhaps more interestingly, hybrid nanocomposites loaded with Fe3 O4 nanorods exhibit the highest catalytic activity compared to those composed of nanoneedles and nanooctahedra, revealing the important role of nanostructure morphology. By means of scanning electrochemical microscopy, it is revealed that Fe3 O4 nanorods can efficiently catalyze H2 O2 decomposition and thus generate more free radicals ((.) OH, (.) HO2 ) for methylene blue degradation, which might account for their high catalytic activity.