Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, cilt.119, sa.6, ss.1-18, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)
This study aims to synthesize magnetically recoverable AgFe2O4/TiO2 nanocomposites and evaluate their photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV irradiation. The nanocomposites were prepared via a combined sol–gel and solvothermal route and characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, UV–Vis DRS, PL, XPS, and VSM analyses. XRD confirmed the coexistence of anatase TiO2 (≈10 nm) and spinel AgFe2O4 (≈17 nm). SEM and TEM images revealed quasi-spherical particles (25–42 nm) with uniform dispersion. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance analysis showed a red-shifted absorption edge and a reduced band gap (2.40 eV) compared with pristine TiO2 (3.2 eV). Photoluminescence spectra exhibited significant emission quenching, indicating suppressed electron–hole recombination due to the heterojunction structure. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of Ag0/Ag+, Fe2+/Fe3+, and Ti4+ species, suggesting effective interfacial charge transfer. Magnetic measurements revealed a saturation magnetization of 19 emu g−1, demonstrating magnetic recoverability of the composite. Photocatalytic experiments showed negligible dye adsorption in the dark, while approximately 85% of MB was degraded within 120 min under UV irradiation. Kinetic analysis indicated that the degradation process follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Radical scavenger experiments identified photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide radicals (•O2⁻) as the dominant reactive species responsible for dye degradation. In addition, the photocatalyst retained more than 80% of its activity after ten reuse cycles, confirming its stability and reusability. These results demonstrate that the AgFe2O4/TiO2 nanocomposite is an efficient, magnetically separable, and reusable photocatalyst with promising potential for wastewater treatment applications.