Exploring the Visible Light Photocatalytic Efficiency of Sol–Gel Derived Zinc Ferrite: A Comparative Analysis of Nanoparticles and Thin Films

IF 3.8 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Pub Date : 2025-05-23 DOI:10.1007/s11270-025-08133-5

Samir Briche, Mustapha Boutamart, Otman Abida, Khalid Nouneh, Lekbira El Mersly, El Mountassir El Mouchtari, Salah Rafqah

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Abstract

This study is regarding the novel synthesis of zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄) thin films and nanoparticles by a sol–gel transition. In this study, we performed hydrolysis/polycondensation reactions on a mixture of zinc and iron alkoxides. To gather information about surface morphology, chemical composition, optical properties, and crystal structure, we applied UV–VIS, FTIR, XRD, BET, TGA–DSC, AFM, and TEM. We also studied how well the ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and thin films would degrade Orange G, a model pollutant, through visible light exposure and photocatalytic activity. The results showed the nanoparticles provided the best photocatalytic activity at 500 °C and thin films at 450 °C. The immobilized photocatalyst still demonstrated activity. However, it did not reach the activity levels exhibited by the nanoparticles. This would be expected due to the larger specific surface area of the nanoparticles.

Graphical Abstract

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溶胶-凝胶法制备铁酸锌的可见光催化效率：纳米粒子与薄膜的对比分析

本研究是关于用溶胶-凝胶过渡法制备铁酸锌（ZnFe2O4）薄膜和纳米颗粒的新方法。在这项研究中，我们对锌和铁的醇氧化物混合物进行了水解/缩聚反应。为了收集其表面形貌、化学成分、光学性质和晶体结构的信息，我们使用了UV-VIS、FTIR、XRD、BET、TGA-DSC、AFM和TEM。我们还研究了ZnFe2O4纳米颗粒和薄膜通过可见光暴露和光催化活性对模型污染物Orange G的降解效果。结果表明，纳米颗粒在500℃和450℃时具有最佳的光催化活性。固定化光催化剂仍显示出活性。然而，它没有达到纳米颗粒所表现出的活性水平。这是意料之中的，因为纳米颗粒的比表面积更大。图形抽象

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来源期刊

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

6.90%

发文量

448

审稿时长

2.6 months

期刊介绍： Water, Air, & Soil Pollution is an international, interdisciplinary journal on all aspects of pollution and solutions to pollution in the biosphere. This includes chemical, physical and biological processes affecting flora, fauna, water, air and soil in relation to environmental pollution. Because of its scope, the subject areas are diverse and include all aspects of pollution sources, transport, deposition, accumulation, acid precipitation, atmospheric pollution, metals, aquatic pollution including marine pollution and ground water, waste water, pesticides, soil pollution, sewage, sediment pollution, forestry pollution, effects of pollutants on humans, vegetation, fish, aquatic species, micro-organisms, and animals, environmental and molecular toxicology applied to pollution research, biosensors, global and climate change, ecological implications of pollution and pollution models. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution also publishes manuscripts on novel methods used in the study of environmental pollutants, environmental toxicology, environmental biology, novel environmental engineering related to pollution, biodiversity as influenced by pollution, novel environmental biotechnology as applied to pollution (e.g. bioremediation), environmental modelling and biorestoration of polluted environments. Articles should not be submitted that are of local interest only and do not advance international knowledge in environmental pollution and solutions to pollution. Articles that simply replicate known knowledge or techniques while researching a local pollution problem will normally be rejected without review. Submitted articles must have up-to-date references, employ the correct experimental replication and statistical analysis, where needed and contain a significant contribution to new knowledge. The publishing and editorial team sincerely appreciate your cooperation. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution publishes research papers; review articles; mini-reviews; and book reviews.