Aluminum-Doping Enhances the Photocatalytic Activity of CdFe2O4 Nanoparticles for Effective Removal of the Herbicide Atrazine

Abstract

Abstract The successful synthesis of aluminum-doped cadmium ferrite Cd1AlxFe2 − XO4 (x = 0,0.2) via a facile sol-gel technique. Characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, DRS, Resistivity, and BET, these nanoparticles exhibit enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity towards atrazine removal in water. A clear peak at (311) verified the presence of a single-phase FFC spinel ferrite structure, with Al doping influencing surface area (32.53 vs 14.43 m2/g for undoped), band gap (2.6 eV vs. 2.8 eV), and morphology. FTIR analysis reveals two main absorption peaks at 537 cm− 1 (ν1) and 453 cm− 1 (ν2), corresponding to the intrinsic stretching vibrations of tetrahedral and octahedral sites, respectively. Aluminum doping shifts these peaks 453 cm− 1 (ν2) TO 449 and 537 cm− 1 (ν1) TO 531 cm− 1, indicating changes in bond lengths and angles within the crystal structure. SEM reveals small, well-defined Al-doped particles and diminutive, smooth undoped counterparts. The existence of Cd, Fe, Al, and O elements is confirmed by EDX analysis. Hydroxyl radicals (OH•) are identified as the primary atrazine degradation species via scavenger analysis. Al doping significantly enhances atrazine removal (97% vs. 72.46% with undoped), attributed to the reduced band gap facilitating visible light absorption The first-order plot fits the data better than the second-order plot, as evidenced by the higher R2 value (0.995 vs. 0.840). Furthermore, the Al-doped nanoparticles demonstrate excellent stability over five reuse cycles, highlighting their potential for sustainable water purification. Their eco-friendly composition and cost-effective synthesis suggest promising applicability in environmental remediation technologies.