Search

This work focussed on the optical, magnetic and photocatalytic properties of sol-gel-synthesized FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres and was compared with pristine ZnO nanospheres. The crystalline phase of FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres was studied with X-ray diffraction analysis and was well matched with standard pattern. Surface morphology was studied with HR-SEM images and EDAX spectrum. Furthermore, elemental mapping analysis was carried out to confirm the presence of FeO phase in FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres. FT-Raman spectral studies show that a strong intense peak at 670 cm indicates the presence of FeO in FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres. The mean crystallite size of FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres was 34 nm as calculated by Debye-Scherrer's formula which confirmed with HR-TEM image. The SAED pattern shows the presence of (100), (101), (102) and (202) of ZnO phase and (400) of FeO phase, confirming the crystalline nature of FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) result shows that FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres possess superparamagnetic nature and the composite nanospheres are magnetically separable. The optical properties have been studied by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence spectra. Implantation of FeO in ZnO nanospheres modifies the UV absorption edge, and it displays near-band gap emission and deep-level emission. The photocatalytic activity of FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres studied against rhodamine B dye is found higher than that of pristine ZnO nanospheres which shows that FeO-doped ZnO nanospheres are a promising photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel ferrite NiFeO nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized by using nickel nitrate, ferric nitrate, citric acid, and ethyl cellulose as a surfactant by a simple sol-gel-assisted combustion method (SACM) and microwave-assisted combustion method (MACM). Structural, morphological, optical, and magnetic properties of the obtained powder were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD results show that the resultant powder was pure crystalline with cubic structure. The average crystalline size was found to be 18.8 and 10.2 nm synthesized by SACM and MACM, respectively. FT-IR spectra indicate the type of bonds between Ni-O and Fe-O (metal and oxygen). SEM images show that the morphology of the powder consists of well-defined structure. VSM results showed a ferromagnetic behavior of the sample. Antimicrobial activity of NiFeO nanoparticles was performed. Both sample 1 (SACM) and sample 2 (MACM) show good inhibition in the zone 100 μg/ml. While comparing, sample 2 shows high inhibition than sample 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]