Synthesis and Characterization for Optical and Photocatalytic Activity of Silver doped Lanthanum-Zinc Ferrites in Water Purification under Visible Light

Abstract

Using the hydrothermal technique lanthanum-Zinc ferrites (ZnLaxFe2-xO4) and silver (1% and 3%) doped Lanthanum-Zinc ferrites (Ag ZnLaxFe2-xO4) at X = 0.2 (for exceptional photocatalytic activity at this concentration [93]), nanoparticles are fabricated. Rh B dye according to its toxicity, color, and environmental hazards was used as aqueous pollutant source for photocatalytic experiment results. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Photoluminescence (PL).The photocatalytic activity of synthesized nanoparticles was studied by conducting the degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh B) under the visible light. PL spectra were verified the recombination and separation time for the synthesized nanoparticles in different light regions. 88.57% of Rh B was degraded in 120 min using silver (3%) doped Lanthanum-Zinc Ferrite. 82.14 % was degraded in 120 min using silver(1%) doped lanthanum-Zinc-ferrites and 71.42% for lanthanum-Zinc ferrite under visible light using 10 mg of the catalyst in 10ppm Rh B solution. The result attests to low cost, reusable and high efficiency photocatalyst for environmental remediation. The synthesize sample is easily separable using any external magnetic source. UV-DRS results and PL spectra revealed exactly the same band gap energy for LZF, ALZF1, and ALZF2 as 2.06, 1.783, and 1.770 eV respectively. Also sample UV results show the shifting of absorption spectrum towards the visible region of light. FTIR and XRD result show the functional and cubic spinel shape photocatalysis formation. SEM images show the morphology of the sample. Reusability and stability experiment exhibit the miner reduction in catalyst efficiency percentage after five cycles. According to extraordinary applications the synthesize sample are use on large scale for IWW treatment process in future.