Nanocrystalline ferrite (MFe2O4, M=Ni, Cu, Mn and Sr) photocatalysts synthesized by homogeneous Co-precipitation technique

Pertaining to the diverse environment, application of ferrites (MFe2O4 = Ni, Cu, Mn and Sr) in scientific and industrial categories, it is vital to optimize its properties and hence a facile homogeneous co-precipitation route was used to formulate MFe2O4 nanoparticles in order to study its morphological, optical and magnetic perspective. The enviable phase pure spinel nanoparticles were deliberated by X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Laser Raman, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. XRD depicts the phase formation, crystallite size, lattice parameter and the speck size was calculated by Scherrer formula. The FTIR spectrum reveals the absorption bands between 4000-400 cm−1 whereas the Raman spectrum is extended for the photon modes of asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations. The morphological and particle distribution was studied using TEM. Surface analysis was performed using the Isothermal BET technique for the as-synthesized nanoparticles. UV-visible analysis reveals the significance of optical property in application of Photo-Fenton activity. Using Kubelka-Munk plot, bandgap was found for as-synthesized samples. The synthesized MFe2O4 photo catalyst was studied for its significance in photo-Fenton activity of Methylene blue (MB) dye degradation. The synthesized photo catalyst was reused for 5 cycles and it was evident that it had no significant loss, which makes it an adroit candidate in industrial distillation.