Synthesis, Characterization and Study of Photocatalytic Activity of Cadmium Magnesium Nano Ferrites

Wasim Ullah Marwat

doi:10.4172/2169-0022.1000145

Abstract

To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports has been cited in the literature on the photo catalytic properties of CdxMg1-xFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles under solar light irradiation to till date. Considering the importance of CdxMg1-x Fe2O4 nanoparticles and their wide applications, we made an attempt to synthesize CdxMg1-x Fe2O4 (x=0.3,0.5,0.7,1.0) nanoparticles by co-precipitation method at 80°C then filtered and washed with distilled water. After drying, heat treatment was carried out for 3 hours at 600°C. The prepared samples were characterized using XRD (X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy) and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetric) methods. The XRD result shows that all prepared samples crystallite size are in the range of 28 nm to 58 nm and lattice constant in the range of 8.41 to 8.68 nm. Scanning Electron Microscopy result shows that all the samples are spherical almost uniform in shape and the crystal size below 50 nm. XEDS result shows that the main components of the prepared samples are Cd, Mg, Fe and Oxygen. Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy results clearly indicate the Cd-Mg nano Ferrite are synthesized. Differential scanning calorimeter graphs shows the phase formation of all the samples. Band gap energy of the synthesized samples is calculated using the general equation E=mc2 and found 2.95 -3.21 eV through Ultra Violet-Visible Spectrophotometer absorption studies. The photo catalytic property of CdxMg1-xFe2O4 nanoparticles was calculated during the Methyl Orange degradation with different time interval under solar light irradiation and found that Cd0.5Mg0.5Fe2O4 having good Photocatalytic properties for Methyl Orange degradation.

Highlights

A ferrite is a chemical compound of ceramic materials with iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) as its main component
The conversion of solar energy into a practically applicable form can be achieved by a photo catalyst through a process that is similar to photosynthesis [4,5]
After confirmation from their characterization, their band gap energy is determined by using UV-Visible Spectrophotometer and Photocatalytic properties in the presence of sunlight by degradation of Methyl Orange

Summary

Introduction

A ferrite is a chemical compound of ceramic materials with iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) as its main component. After studying the above mentioned literature of different ferrites and metal oxide photocatalytic degradation properties, we have synthesized the Cd-Mg Ferrites to determine its organo pollutant Methyl Orange photo catalytic degradation. Cd-Mg Ferrite is synthesized by co-precipitation method and heat treated to 600°C for phase formation and characterize by XRD, SEM, FTIR and DSC. After confirmation from their characterization, their band gap energy is determined by using UV-Visible Spectrophotometer and Photocatalytic properties in the presence of sunlight by degradation of Methyl Orange

Materials and Method

Results and Discussion

Conclusion