ZnFe2O4-TiO2 Nanoparticles within Mesoporous MCM-41

A novel nanocomposite ZnFe(2)O(4)-TiO(2)/MCM-41 (ZTM) was synthesized by a sol-gel method and characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), N(2) adsorption-desorption, Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry. The results confirmed the incorporation of ZnFe(2)O(4)-TiO(2) nanoparticles inside the pores of the mesoporous MCM-41 host without destroying its integrity. ZnFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles can inhibit the transformation of anatase into rutile phase of TiO(2). Incorporation of ZnFe(2)O(4)-TiO(2) within MCM-41 avoided the agglomeration of nanoparticles and reduced the band gap energy of TiO(2) to enhance its visible light photocatalytic activity. UV-vis absorption edges of ZTM nanocomposites redshifted with the increase of Zn/Ti molar ratio. The nanocomposite approach could be a potential choice for enhancing the photoactivity of TiO(2), indicating an interesting application in the photodegradation and photoelectric fields.