Structural, morphological and photocatalytic properties of Bi-Mg-Cu ferrites: Influence of the Bi: Fe ratio

Rhodamine B (RhB) dye is an exceedingly dangerous pollutant. So, this study described an effective synthesis of pure and Bi3+ doped Mg-Cu nanophotocatalysts (MCBF) to facilitate the disposal of this harmful pollutant. We studied their structural, morphological, optical, and photocatalytic degradation characteristics. The XRD results of all the prepared photocatalysts confirmed their spinel structure without any impurities. Three justifications for why the lattice parameters of these nanoferrites have a peculiar behavior. The crystallite size has unsteadied behavior; within the range of 29.75-44.87 nm, as determined by the Williamson-Hall approach. The lattice parameter has a distinctive behavior; decrement from 8.3168 angstrom for MCBF0 to 8.3037 angstrom for MCBF2 and increment for the nanoferrites MCBF3 (8.3448 angstrom) and MCBF4 (8.3852 angstrom) and decreased again for the nanoferrite MCBF5 (8.3448 angstrom). The STEM graphs demonstrated the agglomeration of nanosized, spherical, and homogeneous-shaped particles. The optical band energy of all the MCBF nanoferrites was in the visible light range of 2.009-2.031 eV. The nanoferrites MCBF0 and MCBF4 have the highest energy gap (2.031 eV), whereas the nanoferrite MCBF5 has the lowest (2.009 eV). Although the modification of the energy gap of MCBF nanoferrites by Bi doping was not large, the photocatalytic activity of MCBF nanophotocatalysts was improved by substituting bismuth ions. In particular, MCBF5, with the highest bismuth content, gave the supreme RhB degradation of 95.81%, with a higher ratio of 245.39% than the pure Mg-Cu ferrite sample. The MCBF5 catalyst showed excellent stability under visible light irradiation across all cycles, 95.81, 95.64, 95.28, 95.04, and 94.89%. Therefore, Mg0 center dot 5Cu0 center dot 5Bi0 center dot 1Fe1 center dot 9O4 nanoferrite is a suitable option for RhB degradation under sunlight and may function as a likely catalyst in wastewater purification.

Automated summary

This study describes the synthesis of pure and Bi3+ doped Mg-Cu nanophotocatalysts (MCBF) for the disposal of the dangerous pollutant Rhodamine B (RhB). The structural, morphological, optical, and photocatalytic degradation characteristics of MCBF were investigated. The MCBF5 catalyst, with the highest bismuth content, showed excellent stability and the supreme RhB degradation of 95.81%, making it a potential catalyst for wastewater purification under sunlight.