Constructing magnetic Fe3O4-Au@CeO2 hybrid nanofibers for selective catalytic degradation of organic dyes

Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) play a vital role in heterogeneous catalytic reactions. However, pristine Au NPs usually suffer from poor selectivity and difficult recyclability. In this work, Fe3O4-Au@CeO2 hybrid nanofibers were prepared via a simple one-pot redox reaction between HAuCl4 and Ce (NO3)(3) in the presence of Fe3O4 nanofibers. CeO2 shell was uniformly coated on the surface of Fe3O4 nanofibers to form a unique core-shell structure, while Au NPs were encapsulated inside the CeO2 shell. The as-prepared Fe3O4-Au@CeO2 hybrid nanofibers have been proved to be positively surface charged due to the formation of CeO2 shell, enabling them to be good candidates for predominant selective catalytic activity towards the degradation of negatively charged organic dyes. In addition, the Fe3O4-Au@CeO2 hybrid nanofibers showed magnetic properties, offering them excellent recyclable usability. This work presents a facile and effective solution to prepare magnetic noble metal/metal oxide hybrid nanomaterials with unique chemical structure and surface characteristic for promising applications in heterogeneous catalysis.