relation: https://khub.utp.edu.my/scholars/12592/ title: Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite fabricated by decorating magnetic MnFe2O4 nanoparticles on BiOBr nanosheets for enhanced visible light photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and Rhodamine B creator: Sin, J.-C. creator: Lam, S.-M. creator: Zeng, H. creator: Lin, H. creator: Li, H. creator: Kugan Kumaresan, A. creator: Mohamed, A.R. creator: Lim, J.-W. description: In this study, novel Z-scheme BiOBr/MnFe2O4 nanocomposites were successfully fabricated using a simple and surfactant-free hydrothermal synthetic route. The physicochemical and optical characteristics of the photocatalysts were analyzed by various instruments. The obtained BiOBr/MnFe2O4 nanocomposites significantly accelerated the photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Rhodamine B (RhB) when compared with other analyzed photocatalysts under visible light irradiation. Among all samples, the BiOBr/MnFe2O4-10 nanocomposite exhibited the best photocatalytic performance. The improved photoactivity was ascribed to the formation of Z-scheme heterojunction between BiOBr and MnFe2O4, thereby resulting in efficient separation of charge carriers. Photoelectrochemical and photoluminescence analyses were carried out to validate this conclusion. Furthermore, the BiOBr/MnFe2O4 nanocomposite can be easily separated and recycled without significant loss of photoactivity after five consecutive uses. The intermediate products produced during the photodegradation of 2,4-D were also detected. Radical quenching experiments revealed that the hydroxyl radicals played critical roles in the photodegradation reactions. Finally, a possible photocatalytic enhancement mechanism of BiOBr/MnFe2O4 nanocomposites was proposed. © 2020 Elsevier B.V. publisher: Elsevier B.V. date: 2020 type: Article type: PeerReviewed identifier: Sin, J.-C. and Lam, S.-M. and Zeng, H. and Lin, H. and Li, H. and Kugan Kumaresan, A. and Mohamed, A.R. and Lim, J.-W. (2020) Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite fabricated by decorating magnetic MnFe2O4 nanoparticles on BiOBr nanosheets for enhanced visible light photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and Rhodamine B. Separation and Purification Technology, 250. ISSN 13835866 relation: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85086760668&doi=10.1016%2fj.seppur.2020.117186&partnerID=40&md5=44c650d9871663696af479f1d90f05d5 relation: 10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117186 identifier: 10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117186