Feroxyhyte nanoflakes coupled to up-converting carbon nanodots: a highly active, magnetically recoverable, fenton-like photocatalyst in the visible-NIR range

Abstract

We demonstrate the enhanced photocatalytic response of a novel Fenton-like heterogeneous catalyst obtained through the assembly of superparamagnetic feroxyhyte nanoflakes synthesized by continuous gas-slug microfluidics and carbon nanodots obtained by pyrolysis from a natural organic source. The novel nanohybrids enable the utilization of the visible and near-infrared ranges due to the active role of the carbon nanodots as up-converting photo-sensitizers. This novel photocatalyst is magnetically recoverable and maintains an excellent response after multiple reutilization cycles. In addition, its synthesis is based on inexpensive and abundant raw materials and its photo-catalytic response is evaluated in the presence of energy efficient, affordable light-emitting diodes (LEDs), thereby providing a promising and feasible alternative to the homogeneous Fenton process.