Synthesis, characterizations and the photocatalytic ability of Co1-xZnxFe2O4 spinels prepared by combustion method

Abstract

In this research, Co1-xZnxFe2O4 (x=0-0,5) spinel ferrites were synthesized at 5000C by combustion method using glycine and metal nitrates. The powder samples were characterized by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). X-ray analysis showed that all samples have single phase cubic spinel structure. Structural parameters of spinels were also determined from XRD datas. The lattice constants, cell volumes increased with the increase in zinc substitution. The average crystallite sizes of the particles were determined with Zn content from 11 to 16 nm. The TEM images reveals the spherical shapes of nanoparticles with an average particle size less than 20 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the spinels were tested by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under visible light. The results showed that Zn doped spinels exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than CoFe2O4. Among all the samples, the maximum degradation efficiency was achieved by the 0.4 Zn substituted cobalt ferrite.