Magnetic titanium dioxide embedded molecularly imprinted polymer nanocomposite for the degradation of diuron under visible light

Abstract The present study aims at the synthesis of a magnetic titanium dioxide (mTiO2) incorporated conducting molecularly imprinted polymer (mTiO2-MIP) for the visible light driven degradation of a priority pollutant, diuron (DU). The prepared photocatalyst, mTiO2-MIP was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM, VSM, XPS, UV–Vis DRS, photoluminescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic techniques. The conducting MIP layer not only enhanced the selectivity of the catalyst but also act as a photosenstizer. Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of DU was observed with mTiO2-MIP as photocatalyst compared to mTiO2 under visible light.