Phosphotungstic acid anchored to amino-functionalized core-shell magnetic mesoporous silica microspheres: a magnetically recoverable nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic activity.

H(3)PW(12)O(40) was successfully anchored to the surface of amino-functionalized Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2)@meso-SiO(2) microspheres by means of chemical bonding to aminosilane groups, aiming to remove unwanted organic compounds from aqueous media. The resultant multifunctional microspheres were thoroughly characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma, and N(2) adsorption-desorption. The as-prepared microspheres possess unique properties including high magnetization (46.8 emu g(-1)), large BET surface area (135 m(2) g(-1)), and highly open mesopores (~5.0 nm), and H(3)PW(12)O(40) loading is calculated to be ~16.8%; and as a result, the as-prepared microspheres exhibit enhanced performance in degrading dyes under UV irradiation compared with pure H(3)PW(12)O(40). Additionally, the photocatalyst can be easily recycled using an external magnetic field without losing the photocatalytic activity.