Crystal Structure, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Green-Synthesized NiZnFe₂O₄/SiO₂ for Degradation of Methylene Blue

Abstract

NiZnFe2O4/SiO2 was successfully synthesized by green-synthesis method using moringa oleifera with various concentrations of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30% and 50%. X-Ray diffraction spectra showed that the crystal structure of NiZnFe2O4/SiO2 has a mixed cubic spinel structure. Fourier-transform infrared spectra indicated the C-H functional group at 2374-2378 cm-1 which identified that green synthesis has been successfully carried out, Si-O-Si (siloxane) at 1072-1100 cm-1 which was confirmed as NiZnFe2O4/SiO2 which allows modification silica was successfully encapsulated in NiZnFe2O4/SiO2 confirmed by the presence of Si-O-Si groups at 1065-1086 cm-1. The result of the vibrating sample magnetometer NiZnFe2O4/SiO2 showed saturation magnetization and coercivity was 9-18 emu/g and with at 44-50 Oe respectively, so it is detected as superparamagnetic. The UV-Vis absorbance spectrum of NiZnFe2O4/SiO2 for all concentrations was at 194 nm with a band gap of energy ranging from 3.14 to 3.34 eV which indicates good absorption. The Photocatalytic process with NiZnFe2O4/SiO2 using organic dye methylene blue was available to do up to 94%.