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Characterization and enhanced photocatalytic performance of nanocrystalline Ni-substituted Zn ferrites synthesized by DEA-assisted sol–gel auto-combustion method

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Abstract

Nanocrystalline Ni-substituted Zn ferrites with compositions of NixZn1−xFe2O4 (x = 0–1.0) were synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion method using metal nitrate as the reactants. Diethanolamine was selected as the fuel instead of conventional fuels such as urea, citric acid, tartaric acid or glycine. Characterization of after-calcined ferrite samples were conducted in terms of crystal structure, molecular vibrations, morphology and magnetic properties through X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and vibrating sample magnetometer analysis, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of these ferrites were studied in term of degradation of Rhodamine B under daylight-irradiation. The corresponding results indicate that nickel loading content has significant effect on physical, magnetic, optical and photocatalytic properties of the ferrite. Comparing to the undoped Zn ferrite, Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 shows the enhancement in photocatalytic activity accompanying the degradation of Rhodamine B aqueous solution up to 77 % within 4 h. The result suggests the feasibility of this material as potential sunlight-activated photocatalyst in wastewater treatment and environment cleaning applications.

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Acknowledgments

This work has partially been supported by the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organization) with the PhD scholarship GS-55-D02 for T. Tangcharoen and the National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), NSTDA, Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand, through its program of Center of Excellence Network and Thai Microelectronics Center (TMEC), NSTDA, Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand. Authors would like to thank KMITL Research Fund, Scientific Instruments Service Centre (SISC) of KMITL for FTIR measurement, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT) for XRD and SEM measurement, Thai Microelectronics Center (TMEC) for FE-SEM measurement and Department of Physics, Kasetsart University (KU) for VSM measurement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Nanotechnology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Bangkok, 10520, Thailand

    Thanit Tangcharoen & Wisanu Pecharapa

  2. Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI), Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand

    Thanit Tangcharoen & Wantana Klysubun

  3. Thai Microelectronics Center (TMEC), Chachoengsao, 24000, Thailand

    Anucha Ruangphanit

  4. Thailand and Center of Excellence in Physics (ThEP Center), CHE, 328 SiAyutthaya Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Wisanu Pecharapa

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  1. Thanit Tangcharoen
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  2. Anucha Ruangphanit
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  3. Wantana Klysubun
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  4. Wisanu Pecharapa
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Correspondence to Wisanu Pecharapa.

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Tangcharoen, T., Ruangphanit, A., Klysubun, W. et al. Characterization and enhanced photocatalytic performance of nanocrystalline Ni-substituted Zn ferrites synthesized by DEA-assisted sol–gel auto-combustion method. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 66, 387–398 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-013-3021-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-013-3021-x

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