Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Visible Light Driven Zr0.15Mn0.85Fe2O4 Catalyst for Degradation of Organic Pollutant

Zirconium incorporated manganese ferrite (Zr0.15Mn0.85Fe2O4) nanoparticles were prepared successfully by a solution combustion technique using glycine as a fuel. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The XRD analysis confirmed the formation of spinel structure of the synthesized material. The photocatalytic activity of Zr0.15Mn0.85Fe2O4 nanoparticles has been examined for the photocatalytic degradation of direct blue 71 dye under visible light irradiation. It was found that the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the catalyst increased with co-doping of zirconium. The reason for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of Zr0.15Mn0.85Fe2O4 mainly due to increased optical absorption and decreased recombination of electrons-holes. Hence present study also shows that Zr0.15Mn0.85Fe2O4 catalyst could be utilized as potential catalyst for the degradation of hazardous pollution and can be recovered from the reaction mixture using an external magnet and recycled.