Structure and optical properties of V3+and Eu3+ ions co-doped nanocrystalline MgAl2O4 nanopowders for photoluminescent applications

Abstract

A synthetic material having a cubic crystal structure and exceptional chemical, thermal, dielectric, mechanical, and optical capabilities is magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) spinel. These characteristics made magnesium aluminium oxide (MgAl2O4) an essential material for optically transparent windows, domes, armour, and some refractory applications. This research proposes an innovative and low-cost method for producing spinel magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4). Sol-gel auto-combustion method synthesis approach by ammonium hydroxide precipitation and citric acid as a fuel were used to create MgAl2O4 nanocrystalline materials. The gels were dried at 120 °C while being doped with various vanadium ion concentrations with the same amount of rare earth Eu3+ ions and then calcined at 1100 °C for 8 h. Highly crystalline MgAl2O4:V3+:Eu3+ was obtained under fuel-rich conditions only. Physical and chemical methods, including X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopes, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV–VIS-NIR spectrophotometry and photoluminescence analysis, were used to characterize the produced spinel materials. The effects of adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial concentrations on total bromocresol green (BCG) removal from wastewater were studied using real wastewater. Optimal conditions were found for total BCG removal. BCG removal and adsorption capacity of MgAl2O4:0.05V3+:0.011Eu3+ nanoparticles were achieved as 96.40 % and 90.10 %, respectively. In addition, other optimum conditions of adsorbent dosage and contact time were found as 1.5 g/L and 120 min. in this study, respectively. The removal of BCG using MgAl2O4:V3+:Eu3+ NPs was fitted with Langmuir isotherm kinetic model. The results indicated that MgAl2O4:V3+:Eu3+ nanospinel was suitable adsorbents for the removal of BCG from industrial wastewater.