Ni-doped Mg-Zn nano-ferrites: Fabrication, characterization, and visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of model textile dyes

• Published in: Catalysis communications 2023-08, Vol.181, p.106719, Article 106719
• Main Authors: Bagade, Arun V., Pund, Sangita N., Nagwade, Pratik A., Kumar, Brajesh, Deshmukh, Satish U., Kanagare, Anant B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Environmental remediation; Ni-Mg-Zn ferrites; Photocatalyst; Recyclability; XO and MB degradation
• ISSN: 1566-7367; 1873-3905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2023.106719

Novel Ni2+-doped NixMg0.5Zn0.5-xFe2O4 [x = 0.0 to 0.5] nano-ferrites have been successfully prepared by the facile co-precipitation method. The XRD data demonstrated the formation of a single-phase cubic spinel structure. The optical band gap of the synthesized samples was found to increase with increasing Ni2+ content from 1.72 eV (x = 0.1) to 1.82 eV (x = 0.5). Samples with Ni2+ doping exhibit a transition from superparamagnetic to soft ferromagnetic activity. Ni0.5Mg0.5Fe2O4 catalyst has been found to have enhanced degrading efficiencies of 95.92 and 90.21% against methylene blue and xylenol orange in visible light, respectively. The main reactive species, as determined by scavenging activity, were hydroxyl radicals. [Display omitted] •Oxalate co-precipitation method to synthesize Ni-Mg-Zn ferrite.•Ionic radius discrepancies between substituted Ni2+ ions and displaced Zn2+ ions are responsible for structural changes.•Ni2+ doped Ni-Mg-Zn NPs demonstrate a shift in behavior from superparamagnetic to soft ferrimagnetic.•Enhanced photocatalytic degradation with increase in Ni2+ content in NixMg0.5Zn0.5-xFe2O4 (x = 0.1 to 0.5, and Δx = 0.1) ferrites.•Ni0.5 Mg0.5Fe2O4 catalyst has been found to have highest degrading efficiencies of 95.3 and 90.18% against methylene blue and xylenol orange, respectively.