Magnetically Separable Hollow MnFe2O4-Polyaniline Composite Nanofibers: Highly Enhanced Visible Light Photodegradation of Methyl Orange

Hollow manganese ferrite-polyaniline composite nanofibers (MnFe2O4-PANI) as a magnetically separable photocatalyst were synthesized by an electrospinning method, subsequent thermal treatment in air, and the polymerization of PANI on the surface of MnFe2O4. Heterostructured hollow core-shell MnFe2O4-PANI nanofibers offer numerous interconnected network with abundant mesoporosity and macroporosity. Heterojunction with hollow core-shell structure between MnFe2O4 and PANI makes it easier to absorb visible light and to induce charge separation, which results in a remarkable photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) dye under visible-light irradiation. Magnetically separable hollow MnFe2O4-PANI photocatalyst was superior in recovery efficiency after three cycling runs under visible-light driven irradiation.