Effect of Shape and Size on Synthesized Triple (Co/Ni/Zn)-Doped α-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles on their Photocatalytic and Scavenging Properties

Abstract

Co/Ni/Zn triple doped [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized via polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/Azadirachta indica (A. Indica) leaf extract coating. XRD, UV–Vis, SEM, TEM, EDS, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, VSM were used to characterize the synthesized NPs. XRD pattern revealed that the crystallite size of NPs ranges from 14[Formula: see text]nm to 21[Formula: see text]nm. Spherical NPs were found by SEM/TEM examination ranging from 16[Formula: see text]nm to 26[Formula: see text]nm of doped [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 NPs. Analysis of the magnetic properties of [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 NPs revealed antiferromagnetic characteristics, convergence between magnetization curves (MS), and switching field distribution dM/dh below an irreversible temperature of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]K. Produced catalyst was used for the degradation of anionic azo dye Malachite green (MG) and Rhodamine blue (RhB) dyes under the influence of UV radiation. RhB and MG were reduced as a result of the doped [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 catalyzing the conversion of dissolved O2 to hydroxyl radicals (OH) when exposed to visible light. This shows that the main active radical specifically engaged in the photo-catalytic breakdown of dyes is OH. The most effective photo-catalyst was determined by investigating the proposed doped [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 NPs reusability over three cycles. The catalyst was retrieved and utilized three times after the reaction without suffering a substantial loss of catalytic activity. The plant-mediated [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3 NPs have significant antioxidant activity due to their higher phenolic content. These have a promising future with potential applications in health, aging, food preservation, cosmetics, agriculture and environmental protection.