Synthesis of magnetic recoverable g-C 3 N 4 /SnFe 2 O 4 composite with enhanced visible light photocatalytic property

Abstract Magnetic recoverable g-C 3 N 4 /SnFe 2 O 4 photocatalysts were successfully prepared by a solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction patterns clearly indicated the coexistence of both g-C 3 N 4 and SnFe 2 O 4 in the composites. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that 50 nm-sized SnFe 2 O 4 particles were well anchored and distributed on the g-C 3 N 4 sheets. The g-C 3 N 4 /SnFe 2 O 4 composite exhibited much enhanced photocatalytic property in degrading chlorotetracycline under visible light irradiation as compared to g-C 3 N 4 or SnFe 2 O 4 only. The g-C 3 N 4 /SnFe 2 O 4 composite photocatalyst could be easily separated from the solution by a lab magnet, and the reactivity did not show significant degradation even after being used for three cycles. The possible reaction mechanism was proposed.