Ag-modified TiO/SiO/FeO sphere with core-shell structure for photo-assisted reduction of 4-nitrophenol.

Nitrogen-containing contaminants, such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), cause detrimental effects when discharged into the environment and thus should be reduced or removed from ecosystems. In this study, an Ag-loaded TiO-SiO-FeO (TSF) with a core-shell structure was employed for the photo-assisted reduction of 4-NP. FeO, SiO, and TiO in the core-shell structure served as a magnetic center, protective layer, and light absorber, respectively.