Synthesis of sulphur doped CoFe2O4 by calcination process in air and their photocatalytic activity in the presence of visible light

Abstract

S–CoFe2O4 nanocomposite was synthesized using an easy calcining procedure in the air and was then given a variety of analytical techniques to analyze it. PXRD analysis supported cubic S–CoFe2O4 structure. CoFe2O4 and S–CoFe2O4 catalysts have been continuously absorbed in the visible region, which suggests active d-d transitions. Methylene blue degradation was used to investigate the photocatalytic activity of CoFe2O4 and S–CoFe2O4 catalysts under visible light illumination. The point zero charge of S–CoFe2O4 catalyst was found to be at pH 4.4 confirmed from the zeta potential. Ammonium persulfate was deployed as an oxidant to compare to hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, the S–CoFe2O4 composite performance was investigated in the presence of a trapping agent such isopropyl alcohol. The decreasing order of photocatalytic activity is as follows: S–CoFe2O4 + H2O2 > S–CoFe2O4 + APS > S–CoFe2O4 > CoFe2O4 > S–CoFe2O4 + IPA. Kinetic study shows S–CoFe2O4 with H2O2 system best fitted to zero order model. The degradation of methylene blue was examined using the liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy technique.

Keywords

• Spinel ferrites
• Photocatalysis
• Semiconductor
• Environmental remediation