Investigation of structural, elastic, thermal, magnetic, optical, and photocatalytic properties of nanosized Mg-Mn-Li ferrites

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology Vol. 111; no. 3; pp. 850 - 877
• Main Authors: Assar, S. T., Asal, N. A., Moharram, B. M., Okba, Ehab A., Hatem, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalytic activity; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coercivity; Composites; Crystallites; Diffraction patterns; Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy; Dyes; Elastic properties; Energy gap; Ferrites; Fourier transforms; Glass; Hydrogen peroxide; Hysteresis loops; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Inorganic Chemistry; Ion concentration; Magnetic properties; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Original Paper; Particle size; Particle size distribution; Photocatalysis; Quantum confinement; Spectrum analysis; Thermal conductivity; Thermoelectricity; Ultraviolet radiation; Ultraviolet reflection; X-ray diffraction; Ferrite nanoparticles; Cation distribution; Photocatalytic activity; Photoluminescence analysis; Sol–gel autocombustion method; Methyl green dye
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-024-06456-z

Nanoferrites of (Mn 1- x Mg x ) 0.8 Li 0.1 Fe 2.1 O 4 ( x : 0–1.0, step 0.2) were synthesized by the sol–gel autocombustion method. The structural properties of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction patterns for the samples establish the nanoscale (38–54 nm) pure-phase spinel cubic structure ( Fd - 3 ̅ m ). Also, the particle size analysis results demonstrate the narrow distribution of their particle sizes, which range from 10 to 33 nm. The impact of Mg 2+ ion concentration on the thermal, elastic, magnetic, and optical properties of these samples was studied. The saturation magnetization decreases from 56.9 to 31.1 emu/g, and the coercivity increases from 65.8 to 106.8G with the addition of Mg 2+ ions, showing thin S-shaped hysteresis loops revealing the samples’ soft magnetic behavior. Thermal results indicate that these samples are interesting candidates for thermoelectric applications due to their noticeably lower thermal conductivity, which ranges from 0.3572 to 0.5881 W/mK. The optical band gap values determined by using ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy range from 5.11 to 5.25 eV, where quantum confinement for crystallite size triggers a larger band gap. As the concentration of Mg 2+ ions increases, their ability to degrade methyl green dye under ultraviolet radiation for 100 min rises from 13.6 to 61.1% with the addition of H 2 O 2 , an indication of their photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the optimum ferrite sample, Mn 0.4 Mg 0.4 Li 0.1 Fe 2.1 O 4 , maintained its photocatalytic efficiency for at least six reaction cycles. Graphical Abstract The composition dependence of (a) the m exp and m th and (b) the a o and a th for the (Mn 1− x Mg x ) 0.8 Li 0.1 Fe 2.1 O 4 nanosamples. Highlights The (Mg x Mn 1− x ) 0.8 Li 0.1 Fe 2.1 O 4 was prepared by the citrate precursor method. XRD, PSA and TEM results confirm the nanostructure of the Mn-Mg-Li ferrite samples. Soft magnetic samples are nominees for switching and memory core applications. Lower k s indicates the samples are candidates for thermoelectric applications. Photodegradation efficiency of the samples for MG dye enhanced from 13.6 to 61.1%.