Influence of Co2+ ions on photocatalytic properties of MgFe2O4 ferrites

In this work, spinel magnesium cobalt ferrites (CoxMg1-xFe2O4, x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) were synthesized by a sol-gel combustion method. Magnesium nitrate, cobalt nitrate and iron nitrate were used as oxidizers and citric acid was used as a reducing agent. The effects of cobalt ions on structural and morphological properties were investigated and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. A cubic spinel structure formed with a varied distribution of cobalt and magnesium ions on tetrahedral and octahedral sites that depended on their content. All ferrite powders consisted of multigrain agglomerates. Optical properties were investigated by UV- vis spectrophotometry. The photocatalytic activity of as prepared samples was evaluated by measuring the rate of photodegradation reaction of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. After 240 min, compared to other samples, the sample labeled as Co0.1Mg0.9Fe2O4 showed the best rate of photodecomposition of MB resulting in reduction of 90% of its initial concentration.