Comparative studies of structural, magnetic and photocatalytic degradation on 4-chlorophenol by ZnFe₂O₄ nanostructures prepared via cost effective combustion methods

Simple microwave oven is used to synthesize ZnFe₂O₄ nano particles by adding glycine as a fuel. This simple method is named as Microwave Assisted Method (MAM). To extend comparative analysis of the ZnFe₂O₄ nano particles another method [conventional heating method (CHM)] is also adapted to synthesis the material. Subjecting the samples to structural characterizations it is found that no other secondary phase impurity is observed in the as synthesized nano particles. Results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and HR-SEM analysis of both MAM and CHM samples show the spinel structure and nanoparticles spherical-like morphology. The crystallite sizes from XRD analysis were found as 17.92 and 25.45 nm for MAM and CHM samples respectively. The average particle sizes were found to be 20 and 25 nm from high resolution scanning electron microscope analysis. The magnetic susceptibility obtained from vibrating magnetic spectrometer gives the value of 37.66 emu/g for MAM and 24.3 emu/g for CHM samples respectively. This shows super paramagnetic behavior of MAM and CHM ZnFe₂O₄ nano particles. BET surface analysis shows that surface area of ZnFe₂O₄-MAM is more than ZnFe₂O₄-CHM. Photocatalytic degradation of ZnFe₂O₄-MAM and ZnFe₂O₄-CHM of 4-chlorophenol shows an efficiency of 91.43 and 84.65% respectively. ZnFe₂O₄ nanostructure is a good active, reusable and stable Eco-friendly material for industrial application.