Supplementary material from "Photodegradation of naphthalene over Fe₃O₄ under visible light irradiation"

Using FeCl₃ and FeSO₄ as precursors, Fe₃O₄ were prepared by co-precipitation method via FeCl₃ and FeSO₄ aqueous solutions successively added in NaOH solution. The sample was proved by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscope, ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry and magnetic measurement. The results showed that the prepared Fe₃O₄ material was composed of an average diameter of about 15 nm particles and nano rods with well-crystallized magnetite and stronger superparamagnetic, getting a saturation magnetization of 49.5 emu g⁻¹. This Fe₃O₄ material was found to be an effective catalyst for photodegradation of naphthalene with or without H₂O₂ under visible light irradiation, getting 81.1% and 74.3% degradation rate in these two cases, respectively. The degradation pathway in the absence and presence of H₂O₂ was analysed via measurement of the distribution of degradation products by GC-MS and adsorption of reactants on the surface of the catalyst by in situ DRIFTS spectra.