Synthesis of ZnFe2O4 nanoplates by succinic acid-assisted hydrothermal route and their photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B under visible light

Two pure spinel ZnFe2O4 nanocrystals have been synthesized by hydrothermal approach with/without an organic carboxylic acid-assisted reaction. The effects of synthetic parameters on morphologies, phase-purity and particle sizes of the obtained samples were investigated. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, EDS, UV–vis, FT-IR, XPS, nitrogen adsorption–desorption and TEM. The photocatalytic properties of the obtained ZnFe2O4 samples were investigated to determine their visible-light induced degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). The results show that the as-synthesized ZnFe2O4 nanoplates using succinic acid-assisted hydrothermal approach has good photocatalytic activity, which is probably attributed to the multiple synergetic factors that stem from their low band gap, regular plate morphology, high crystallinity, reasonable pores sizes. The results from current study suggest that the ZnFe2O4 with particle morphology, suitable specific surface areas and high crystallinity will have potentially application for treatment of the organic dyes (RhB) in the polluted water.