Sol-gel auto-combustion, structural and morphological properties of Co60 γ-ray irradiated ZnFe2O4 NPs

• Published in: Materials today : proceedings 2022, Vol.67, p.104-110
• Main Authors: Barkule, Ram S., Barote, Vinod K., Shelar, Mahendra D., Parlikar, Rekha R., Raut, Anil V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AFM; Gamma irradiation; Raman; SEM; Solgel; TGA; XRD
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.05.445

•Physical properties of sol-gel synthesized γ-ZnFe2O4 NPs.•TGA analysis for the thermal states γ-irradiated γ-ZnFe2O4 NPs.•The microstructure of γ-irradiated ZnFe2O4 NPs was studied by AFM and SEM.•Raman active modes haves supported the phase formation.•UV–Vis spectra and Tauc’s plot was reported the bandgap 3.69 eV. In this study, we used the sol-gel auto-combustion method to make zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4 NPs) utilizing glycine as a fuel to boost the chemical reaction in the right direction, following the propellant chemistry protocols. The influence of preparation conditions and sintering temperature kept during the synthesis were investigated using a controlled reaction and ionic exchange. In a gamma chamber, the produced zinc ferrite nanoparticles were irradiated with a total dose of 5 Mrad by Co60-γirradiation. The morphological and topographical character of ZnFe2O4 NPs were studied, as well as the thermal analysis and physico-chemical parameters; TGA exothermic ranged from 220 °C to 660 °C, and TGA endothermic at 660 °C. The phase purity and existence of Bragg's reflections belonging to the space group Fd3m-1; a normal type cubic spinel structure of ZnFe2O4 NPs were shown by the XRD pattern. The lattice constant (a), unit cell volume (V), X-ray density (dx), and other microstructural parameters have been determined using Debye-formula Scherrer's crystallite size (D = 40.164 nm). To support the phase formation investigation, the Raman spectra were examined for the active mode A1g. The UV–Vis spectral absorption of ZnFe2O4 NPs was reported at ∼ 258.03 Å. The optical bandgap was estimated by using a Tauc’s plot; Kubelka-Munk function F(R); which was reported to be 3.69 eV.