Synthesis and functionalization of MnFe2O4 nano-hollow spheres for novel optical and catalytic properties

Herein, we synthesize MnFe2O4 nano-hollow spheres (NHSs) of average diameter 100 nm through a facile template free solvothermal process and carry out a time dependent morphological study to investigate their process of core excavation. Further, a surface engineering of as-synthesized MnFe2O4 NHSs has been executed with organic disodium tartrate dihydrate ligand and interestingly, the surface modified MnFe2O4 NHSs are found to capable of emerging multicolor fluorescence starting from blue, green to red. The magnetic measurements through vibrating sample magnetometer demonstrate that room temperature superparamagnetic nature of MnFe2O4 NHSs remains unaltered after surface modification. Moreover, functionalized MnFe2O4 NHSs are found to exhibit excellent reusable photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of cationic dye, methylene blue with rate constant of 2.64x10(-2) min.