A visible-light-sensitive molybdenum ferrite oxide/titanium dioxide nanocomposite photocatalyst

Abstract

In the present work, MoFe₂O₄/TiO₂ nanocomposite as a photocatalyst was developed hydrothermally and as-prepared catalyst was explored to obtain xanthenedione derivatives under optimized conditions. To comprehend MoFe₂O₄/TiO₂ photocatalytic characteristics, we conducted various tests, including FT-IR, XRD, SEM, BET, XPS, TGA, UV–Vis spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere attachment for diffuse reflectance measurements, NH₃-TPD, and CO₂-TPD for acidity/basicity profiling. Inclusion of MoFe₂O₄ into TiO₂ enhanced its optical characteristics by narrowing the band gap and extending its photocatalytic activity into the visible region. XPS analysis reveals chemical bonding between MoFe₂O₄ into TiO₂ and supporting the formation of a heterojunction structure. This synergistic interaction significantly improved the photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite as compared to individual counterparts. As a photocatalyst, MoFe₂O₄/TiO₂ produced more yield in less time than pure TiO₂. The model compound 3a was efficiently synthesized using MoFe₂O4/TiO₂ as a dual photocatalyst and thermocatalyst under optimized conditions (10 mol% catalyst loading, 40-min irradiation, and 100 mW/cm² visible-light intensity). Xanthedione derivatives yield significantly higher photocatalytic processes in a minimal reaction time as compared to pure TiO₂ and conventional thermal methods, demonstrating ~ 70% reduction in energy consumption. Recyclability studies on materials found MoFe₂O₄/TiO₂ to be stable as photocatalyst properties were consistent up to four runs. This study demonstrated the promising role of visible-light-mediated photocatalysis in bridging green and synthetic organic chemistry.