Synthesis of Nanostructured Fibers of Nickel-Zinc Ferrite and Study of Their Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Nickel-zinc ferrite fibers Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 of various morphologies were synthesized. The X-ray phase analysis showed that the samples correspond to the nickel-zinc ferrite phase. Scanning electron microscopy data confirm that the studied samples of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 fibers consist of nano-sized particles. The band gaps determined by the optical method for both samples of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 fibers were 1.46 and 1.58 eV, which is lower than for Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanopowders. The kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in the presence of ferrite fibers under artificial illumination was studied. The ferrite fiber sample with pores and the smallest band gap has the greatest photocatalytic activity.