Evaluation of magnetic effect with Magnetite/MXene nanocomposite and its enhanced photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation
摘要
This study reports the synthesis of a magnetite/MXene (Fe₃O₄/MXene) nanocomposite via ball milling method for environmental remediation through the efficient degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to gain insights on the structural stability and electronic properties of the composite. The nanocomposite was comprehensively characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive-X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/EDAX), and UV–Vis spectroscopy, confirming the formation of crystalline Fe₃O₄/MXene with well-defined morphology, surface functional groups, and suitable bandgap for the photocatalytic activity. Under optimized conditions, the nanocomposite has achieved an MB degradation efficiency of approximately 99.74% at pH 10 and an initial concentration of 50 mg/L, following pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 > 0.99). The photocatalytic performance has increased due to the synergistic effect between the magnetic properties of magnetite and the high surface area, excellent adsorption capacity, and favorable electronic structure of MXene. These results demonstrate that the Fe₃O₄/MXene nanocomposite is a highly effective, stable, and magnetically separable photocatalyst exhibiting its strong potential for practical applications in dye-polluted wastewater treatment.