Sol–gel combustion synthesis and photocatalytic dye degradation studies of rare earth element Ce substituted Mn–Zn ferrite nanoparticles

Abstract

This paper reports the impacts of cerium (Ce) substitution on morphological, magnetic and structural characteristics of Mn0.5Zn0.5CexFe2-xO4 (x = 0.0, 0.3 and 0.5) ferrites nanoparticles (NPs) prepared via sol gel combustion method. The crystalline structure, magnetic and morphological features were examined by powder X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer and scanning electron microscope analyser individually. Magnetic hysteresis (M−H) loops of samples were determined to examine the magnetic properties of synthesized samples. Magnetic measurement shows that samples exhibit ferromagnetic behaviour at room temperature (RT). The magnetic properties are described in terms of cation substitution and grain size effect. The various concentration of synthesized photocatalyst such as Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4, Mn0.5Zn0.5Ce0.3Fe1.7O4 and Mn0.5Zn0.5Ce0.5Fe1.5O4 NPs were analysed under visible light irradiation by the degradation of an aqueous solution of Congo red and Reactive Orange 16 dyes and the sample Mn0.5Zn0.5Ce0.3Fe1.7O4 NPs showed higher degradation percentage 97.25% and 98.42% respectively, than other compositions at 120 min with enhanced visible light absorption range. These performances expose that these nanomaterials are appropriate for high frequency applications.