Investigations of calcium ferrite nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion and solution mixture methods

Abstract

Calcium ferrite compounds with two different kinds of structures have been produced by two synthesis approaches. The structural analysis is established by Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns for Spinel CaFe2O4 and Brownmillerite Ca2Fe2O5. Scanning Electron Microscopy studies ascertain the morphological properties. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy deduces band stretching of tetrahedral and octahedral sites for ferrite specimens. The bandgap energies are estimated for prepared samples using Tauc relation from ultraviolet visible diffusion reflectance spectroscopy. The methylene blue dye degradation has been studied using prepared ferrite photocatalysts. Brownmillerite with high surface area is offered more sites for the adsorption process, and hence degradation rate is faster than that of Spinel.