CoFe2O4@TiO2@Au Core-Shell Structured Microspheres: Synthesis and Photocatalyltic Properties

A facile and efficient method for fabrication of magnetic composite microspheres CoFe2O4@TiO2@Au is demonstrated. The shells of anatase TiO2 were coated onto a magnetic CoFe2O4 core via liquid-phase deposition procedure, and then Au nanoparticles were deposited onto CoFe2O4@TiO2 microspheres through seed-mediated growth. XRD, TEM, and VSM were used to investigate the structure, morphology and magnetic properties of the samples, their photocatalytic activity were also tested. Heterostructure of CoFe2O4@TiO2@Au was confirmed by different measurements. Compared to unmodified CoFe2O4@TiO2 microspheres, CoFe2O4@TiO2@Au microspheres showed higher photocatalytic activity for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation in water.