Magnetically Recyclable Spinel Mn x Ni1-x Fe2 O 4 (x=0.0-0.5) Nano-photocatalysts: Structural, Morphological and Opto-magnetic Properties

Manganese doped nickel ferrite (Mn (x) Ni1-x Fe-2 O (4): x = 0.0-0.5) spinel nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully prepared by a facile microwave combustion method (MCM) using urea as the fuel. The prepared samples were characterized by different techniques. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was confirmed the formation of a single-phase NiFe2 O (4) spinel structure. The average crystallite sizes of the samples were in the range of 11.49 to 17.24 nm, which was confirmed by Sherrer's formula. The morphology of the samples showed a nanoparticle-like structure with smaller agglomeration, which was confirmed by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM). The particle size diameter ranges from 15 to 20 nm, which was confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the elemental composition, which was also evidence for the formation of single pure phase. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis showed well crystalline nature. UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum analysis was used to calculate the optical band gap, and the values are slightly increased (2.02 to 2.42 eV) with increasing the Mn-dopant, due to the decreasing of particle size, which may be due to the quantum confinement effect. Magnetic properties of the samples were analyzed by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) technique, which showed the magnetization (M (s) ) value of the samples are increased with increasing Mn content and reach a maximum value of 67.82 emu/g for Mn0.5Ni0.5Fe2 O (4) sample. Photo-catalytic activity of the samples was measured and showed the photocatalytic degradation (PCD) of methylene blue dye with good results. The catalyst was magnetically recycled and reused five consecutive cycles and showed good reproducibility without change of catalytic activity.