Enhanced Sunlight Photo catalytic Activity and Biosafetsy of TiO2/ZnFe2O4 Nano composites

Abstract

A good approach for the photo degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under UV-Visible irradiation is the use of Titanium di oxide –Zinc ferrites nanoparticles as a photo catalyst, which showed the high photo catalytic activity, highly magnetic reparability and cost-effective results. The nanoparticles of Titanium di oxide-Zinc ferrites (TiO2/ZnFe2O4 x=1 %, 3 %,) were prepared by using hydrothermal synthesis route. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized nanoparticles studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), UV-visible spectroscopy, raman spectroscopy and Photoluminescence (PL). The structural morphology showed that prepared samples are uniform. The structural properties confirmed to be in good agreement for both XRD, and SEM results and confirmed the cubical nature of the prepared spinel. Furthermore, the increase in size of the nanoparticles with increase in Titanium di-oxide (TiO2) contents, confirmed from the diffraction peaks and SEM analysis. The size of crystallites ranged in 15.5nm evaluated by using Debye-Sharer‘s formula from more intense diffraction peak. The composition of the prepared specimen confirmed by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Photo catalysis carried out to check the photo catalytic activity of the synthesized nanoparticles having different concentrations of , for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under UV-Visible light. The photo catalytic activity checked, resulted 8%, 27%, 41% and 80% for titanium di- oxide doped zinc iron oxide respectively, for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under UV- Visible irradiation in 0,30,60,90 and 120mins, it is concluded that the photo catalytic activity increased by increasing reaction time and the concentration of titanium di-oxide, and this can be increased up to 80 %. The prepared nanocomposite attested to be cost effective, ecofriendly, reusable after recycling, high magnetic reparability after use, and high photo catalytic activity for the photo degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under UV-Visible irradiation.