Nd-doped NiFe2O4 and its composite with CNTs to tune photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Rare earth-doped spinel nano ferrites are attaining importance as heterogeneous nanocatalysts for the degradation of organic effluents. Rare earth metal doping increases the electrical and optical properties, as well as the surface-to-volume ratio of the bare sample. In this work, NiFe2O4 (NF) and Nd-NiFe2O4 (NF-1) were successfully synthesized via the co-precipitation route. Carbon nanotubes (CNT)-based nanocomposite (NF-2) was prepared using the ultra-sonication method. The prepared materials were analyzed via various physiochemical approaches. The degradation efficiency of these materials was analyzed for the degradation of Rhodamine B, methylene blue, and benzoic acid. NF-2 shows the highest efficiency among all the prepared catalysts. NF-2 shows 83.87%, 90.80%, and 66.96% degradation of Rhodamine B, methylene blue, and benzoic acid, respectively. The reason for the superior activity of NF-2 is the existence of rare earth Nd ions and CNTs. The surface area of NF increases due to the presence of carbon nanotubes and enhanced surface area provides more active sites for the degradation reaction.