Achieving effective control of the photocatalytic performance for CoFe2O4/MoS2 heterojuction via exerting external magnetic fields

Abstract Magnetic CoFe2O4/MoS2 heterojuction catalysts are prepared through a two-step synthesis route combing an electrospinning technique and a hydrothermal process. The as-synthesized CoFe2O4/MoS2 are magnetized by different magnetic fields so as to explore the impact of magnetic fields on its photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency for Congo red (CR) of the magnetized CoFe2O4/MoS2 catalysts is analyzed deeply, where the effective tune of photocatalytic ability for the CR degradation through exerting external magnetic fields is confirmed. Interestingly, with increasing the magnetic fields, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency for CR exhibits first decreases, and then increases, lastly decreases again. When the external magnetic field is up to 1500Oe, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency reaches 96.6%. The study provides a new thought to tune the photocatalytic properties and improve photocatalytic degradation efficiency of magnetic catalysts.