Impact of Calcination Temperature on the Properties and Photocatalytic Efficiency of Cd0.6Mg0.2Cu0.2Fe2O4 Spinel Ferrites Synthesized via the Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of calcination temperature on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of Cd0.6Mg0.2Cu0.2Fe2O4 spinel ferrites synthesized via the sol–gel method. By varying the calcination temperatures (950 °C and 1050 °C), we analyze changes in crystallinity, cation distribution, and energy band gap using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–visible spectroscopy. The results indicate that increasing calcination temperature enhances crystallinity and increases particle size while reducing the optical band gap energy. XPS analysis confirms shifts in cation site occupancy and an increase in oxygen vacancies at higher temperatures, which are crucial for charge carrier dynamics. Photocatalytic performance, evaluated through methylene blue degradation under UV light, improves with increasing calcination temperature due to enhanced charge separation and reduced recombination. These findings underscore the critical role of calcination temperature in optimizing spinel ferrites for environmental applications, particularly in wastewater treatment.