Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Current Nanoscience

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-4137
ISSN (Online): 1875-6786

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Research Article

New Er3+-substituted NiFe2O4 Nanoparticles and their Nano-heterostructures with Graphene for Visible Light-Driven Photo-catalysis and other Potential Applications

Author(s): Asima Anwar, Muhammad Asif Yousuf, Bashir Tahir, Muhammad Shahid, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Azhar Khan, Muhammad Sher and Muhammad Farooq Warsi*

Volume 15, Issue 3, 2019

Page: [267 - 278] Pages: 12

DOI: 10.2174/1573413714666180911101337

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Spinel ferrites have great scientific and technological significance because of their easy manufacturing, low cost and outstanding electrical and magnetic properties. Nickel ferrite nanoparticles are ferromagnetic material with an inverse spinel structure. They show remarkable magnetic properties and hence have a wide range of applications in magnetic storage devices, microwave devices, gas sensors, telecommunication, drug delivery, catalysis and magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: The aim and objective of this research article is to study the relative effect of NiErxFe2-xO4 nanoparticles and their composites with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for the photocatalytic degradation reaction and other physical parameters.

Method: Rare earth Er3+ substituted NiErxFe2-xO4 nanoparticles were synthesized via the facile wet chemical route. Six different compositions of NiErxFe2-xO4 with varied Er3+ contents such as (x) = 0.00, 0.005, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02 and 0.025 were selected for evaluation of the effect of Er3+ on various parameters of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared by Hummer’s method and was characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Nano-heterostructures of NiErxFe2-xO4 with rGO were prepared by the ultra-sonication method.

Results: X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) confirmed the spinel cubic structure of all the compositions of NiErx- Fe2-xO4 nanoparticles. The photocatalytic degradation rate of methylene blue and congo red under visible light irradiation was found faster in the presence of NiErxFe2-xO4-rGO nanocomposites as compared to bare nanoparticles. It was also investigated that as the Er3+ contents were increased in NiErxFe2-xO4 nanoparticles, the dielectric parameters were largely affected. The room temperature DC-resistivity measurements showed that the Er3+ contents in NiFe2O4 are responsible for the increased electrical resistivity of ferrite particles. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) analysis of NiErxFe2-xO4 nanoparticles and NiErxFe2-xO4-rGO nanocomposites revealed that the ferrite particles possess low conductance as compared to the corresponding composites with graphene.

Conclusion: The data obtained from all these characterization techniques suggested the potential applications of the NiErxFe2-xO4 nanoparticles and NiErxFe2-xO4-rGO nanocomposites for visible light driven photo-catalysis and high-frequency devices fabrication.

Keywords: Ferrites, spinel ferrites, Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO), nano-heterostructures, photocatalysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

« Previous Next »
Graphical Abstract

[1]
Hassan, A.; Azhar Khan, M.; Shahid, M.; Asghar, M.; Shakir, I.; Naseem, S.; Riaz, S.; Farooq Warsi, M. Nanocrystalline Zn1−x Co0.5xNi0.5x Fe2O4 ferrites: Fabrication via co-precipitation route with enhanced magnetic and electrical properties. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2015, 393(Supplement . C), 56-61.
[2]
Jalaly, M.; Enayati, M.H.; Karimzadeh, F.; Kameli, P. Mechanosynthesis of nanostructured magnetic Ni–Zn ferrite. Powder Technol., 2009, 193(2), 150-153.
[3]
Ghasemi, A.; Mousavinia, M. Structural and magnetic evaluation of substituted NiZnFe2O4 particles synthesized by conventional sol–gel method. Ceram. Int., 2014, 40(2), 2825-2834.
[4]
(a)Šutka, A.; Pärna, R.; Käämbre, T.; Kisand, V. Synthesis of p-type and n-type nickel ferrites and associated electrical properties. Physica B Condens. Matter, 2015, 456, 232-236.
(b)Chinnasamy, C.N.; Narayanasamy, A.; Ponpandian, N.; Chattopadhyay, K.; Guerault, H.; Greneche, J.M. Magnetic properties of nanostructured ferrimagnetic zinc ferrite. J. Phys. Condens. Matter, 2000, 12, 7795.
(c)Ponpandian, N.; Balaya, P.; Narayanasamy, A. Electrical conductivity and dielectric behaviour of nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 spinel. J. Phys. Condens. Matter, 2002, 14, 3221-3237.
(d)Chinnasamy, C.N.; Narayanasamy, A.; Ponpandian, N.; Chattopadhyay, K.; Shinoda, K.; Jeyadevan, B.; Tohji, K.; Nakatsuka, K.; Furubayashi, T.; Nakatani, I. Mixed spinel structure in nanocrystalline NiFe2O4. Phys. Rev. B, 2001, 63, 184108.
[5]
(a)Sivakumar, P.; Ramesh, R.; Ramanand, A.; Ponnusamy, S.; Muthamizhchelvan, C. Synthesis and characterization of nickel ferrite magnetic nanoparticles. Mater. Res. Bull., 2011, 46(12), 2208-2211.
(b)Chen, D-H.; He, X-R. Synthesis of nickel ferrite nanoparticles by sol-gel method. Mater. Res. Bull., 2001, 36(7), 1369-1377.
(c)Thakur, S.; Rai, R.; Sharma, S. Structural characterization and magnetic study of NiFexO4 synthesized by co-precipitation method. Mater. Lett., 2015, 139, 368-372.
(d)Chen, D.; Chen, D.; Jiao, X.; Zhao, Y.; He, M. Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of octahedral nickel ferrite particles. Powder Technol., 2003, 133(1), 247-250.
(e)Pulišová, P.; Kováč, J.; Voigt, A.; Raschman, P. Structure and magnetic properties of Co and Ni nano-ferrites prepared by a two step direct microemulsions synthesis. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2013, 341, 93-99.
(f)Mathew, D.S.; Juang, R-S. An overview of the structure and magnetism of spinel ferrite nanoparticles and their synthesis in microemulsions. Chem. Eng. J., 2007, 129(1), 51-65.
(g)Ali, R.; Mahmood, A.; Khan, M.A.; Chughtai, A.H.; Shahid, M.; Shakir, I.; Warsi, M.F. Impacts of Ni–Co substitution on the structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of magnesium nano-ferrites fabricated by micro-emulsion method. J. Alloys Compd., 2014, 584, 363-368.
[6]
Dixit, G.; Pal Singh, J.; Srivastava, R.C.; Agrawal, H.M. Magnetic resonance study of Ce and Gd doped NiFe2O4 nanoparticles. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2012, 324(4), 479-483.
[7]
(a)Bate, G. Magnetic recording materials since 1975. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 1991, 100(1), 413-424.
(b)Urcia-Romero, S.; Perales-Pérez, O.; Gutiérrez, G. Effect of Dy-doping on the structural and magnetic properties of Co–Zn ferrite nanocrystals for magnetocaloric applications. J. Appl. Phys, 2010, 107(9), 09A508.
(c)Senapati, K.K.; Borgohain, C.; Phukan, P. Synthesis of highly stable CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and their use as magnetically separable catalyst for Knoevenagel reaction in aqueous medium. J. Mol. Catal.A Chem., 2011, 339(1), 24-31.
(d)Sharifi, I.; Shokrollahi, H.; Amiri, S. Ferrite-based magnetic nanofluids used in hyperthermia applications. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2012, 324(6), 903-915.
(e)Kappiyoor, R.; Liangruksa, M.; Ganguly, R.; Puri, I.K. The effects of magnetic nanoparticle properties on magnetic fluid hyperthermia. J. Appl. Phys., 2010, 108, 094702.
(f)Jordan, A.; Scholz, R.; Wust, P.; Schirra, H.; Thomas, S.; Schmidt, H.; Felix, R. Endocytosis of dextran and silan-coated magnetite nanoparticles and the effect of intracellular hyperthermia on human mammary carcinoma cells in vitro. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 1999, 194(1), 185-196.
(g)Kim, D-H.; Nikles, D.E.; Johnson, D.T.; Brazel, C.S. Heat generation of aqueously dispersed CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as heating agents for magnetically activated drug delivery and hyperthermia. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2008, 320(19), 2390-2396.
(h)Faraji, M.; Yamini, M.R. Magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, stabilization, functionalization, characterization, and applications. J. Iran. Chem. Soc., 2010, 7, 1-37.
iCruickshank, D. 1-2 GHz dielectrics and ferrites: Overview and perspectives. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 2003, 23(14), 2721-2726.
[8]
(a)Hajihashemi, H.; Kameli, P.; Salamati, A. The effect of EDTA on the synthesis of Ni Ferrite nanoparticles. J. Supercond. Nov. Magn., 2012, 25, 2357-2363.
(b)Wang, D.; Zhou, J.; Zhou, X.; Ke, X-b.; Chen, C.; Wang, Y-r.; Liu, Y-l.; Ren, L. Facile ultrafast microwave synthesis of monodisperse MFe2O4 (M=Fe, Mn, Co, Ni) superparamagnetic nanocrystals. Mater. Lett., 2014, 136, 401-403.
(c)Huo, J.; Wei, M. Characterization and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline nickel ferrite synthesized by hydrothermal method. Mater. Lett., 2009, 63(13), 1183-1184.
(d)Patil, J.Y.; Nadargi, D.Y.; Gurav, J.L.; Mulla, I.S.; Suryavanshi, S.S. Synthesis of glycine combusted NiFe2O4 spinel ferrite: A highly versatile gas sensor. Mater. Lett., 2014, 124, 144-147.
[9]
(a)Kamala Bharathi, K.; Markandeyulu, G.; Ramana, C.V. Structural, magnetic, electrical, and magnetoelectric properties of Sm- and Ho-substituted nickel ferrites. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2011, 115(2), 554-560.
(b)Bulai, G.; Diamandescu, L.; Dumitru, I.; Gurlui, S.; Feder, M.; Caltun, O. Effect of rare earth substitution in cobalt ferrite bulk materials. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2015, 390, 123-131.
(c)Bulai, G.; Popescu, T.; Feder, M.; Caltun, O. Structural,electricandmagneticproperties of CoFe1.8RE0.2O4 (RE1/4Dy, Gd,La)bulkmaterials. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2013, 333, 69-74.
[10]
Kamala Bharathi, K.; Arout Chelvane, J.; Markandeyulu, G. Magnetoelectric properties of Gd and Nd-doped nickel ferrite. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2009, 321(22), 3677-3680.
[11]
(a)Dehghan, R.; Seyyed Ebrahimi, S.A.; Badiei, A. Investigation of the effective parameters on the synthesis of Ni‐ferrite nanocrystalline powders by coprecipitation method. J. Non-Crystalline. Solids, 2008, 354, 5186-5188.
(b)Rashad, M.M.; Fouad, O. Synthesis and characterization of nano‐sized nickel ferrites from fly ash for catalytic oxidation of CO. Mater. Chem. Phys., 2005, 94, 365-370.
(c)Abraham, T. Economics of ceramic magnet. Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull., 1994, 73, 62-65.
[12]
Anh, L.N.; Loan, T.T.; Duong, N.P.; Soontaranon, S.; Viet Nga, T.T.; Hien, T.D. Influence of Y and La substitution on particle size, structural and magnetic properties of nanosized nickel ferrite prepared by using citrate precursor method. J. Alloys Compd., 2015, 647, 419-426.
[13]
(a)Zhang, Y.; Shi, B.; Zhao, Y.; Yan, M.; Lytle, D.A.; Wang, D. Deposition behavior of residual aluminum in drinking water distribution system: Effect of aluminum speciation. J. Environ. Sci., 2016, 42, 142-151.
(b)Nazim, S.; Kousar, T.; Shahid, M.; Khan, M.A.; Nasar, G.; Sher, M.; Warsi, M.F. New graphene-CoxZn1-xFe2O4 nano-heterostructures: Magnetically separable visible light photocatalytic materials. Ceram. Int., 2016, 42(6), 7647-7654.
(c)Zhang, N.; Niu, F.; Wang, S.; Qin, L.; Huang, Y. Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of Gddoped BiFeO3 nanoparticles and mechanism insight. Sci. Rep., 2016, 6, 26467.
[14]
Ma, G.; Chen, Y.; Li, L.; Jiang, D.; Qiao, R.; Zhu, Y. An attractive photocatalytic inorganic antibacterial agent: Preparation and property of graphene/zinc ferrite/polyaniline composites. Mater. Lett., 2014, 131, 38-41.
[15]
(a)Smith, Y.R.; Kar, A.; Subramanian, V. Investigation of physicochemical parameters that influence photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange over TiO2 nanotubes. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2009, 48(23), 10268-10276.
(b)Wang, C.; Shao, C.; Liu, Y.; Li, X. Water-dichloromethane interface controlled synthesis of hierarchical rutile TiO2 superstructures and their photocatalytic properties. Inorg. Chem., 2009, 48(3), 1105-1113.
[16]
Wang, J.S.; Wai, C.M. Arsenic in drinking water-a global environmental problem. J. Chem. Educ., 2004, 81(2), 207.
[17]
Kim, E.J.; Herrera, J.E. Characteristics of lead corrosion scales formed during drinking water distribution and their potential influence on the release of lead and other contaminants. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2010, 44(16), 6054-6061.
[18]
Feng, T.; Feng, G.S.; Yan, L.; Pan, J.H. One-dimensional nanostructured TiO2 for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. Int. J. Photoenergy, 2014, 2014, Article ID 563879.
[19]
(a)Liang, Y.; Wang, H.; Casalongue, H.S.; Chen, Z.; Dai, H. TiO2 nanocrystals grown on graphene as advanced photocatalytic hybrid materials. Nano Res., 2010, 3(10), 701-705.
(b)Vijayan, B.K.; Dimitrijevic, N.M.; Wu, J.; Gray, K.A. The effects of Pt doping on the structure and visible light photoactivity of titania nanotubes. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2010, 114(49), 21262-21269.
[20]
(a)Chang, H.; Wu, H. Graphene-based nanocomposites: Preparation, functionalization, and energy and environmental applications. Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, 6(12), 3483-3507.
(b)Madni, A.; Noreen, S.; Maqbool, I.; Rehman, F.; Batool, A.; Kashif, P.M.; Rehman, M.; Tahir, N.; Khan, M.I. Graphene-based nanocomposites: Synthesis and their theranostic applications. J. Drug Target., 2018, 1-26.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1061186X.2018.1437920]
(c)Chang, H.; Wu, H. Graphene-based nanocomposites: Preparation, functionalization, and energy and environmental applications. Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, 6, 3483-3507.
(d)Pattnaik, S.; Swain, K.; Lin, Z. Graphene and graphene-based nanocomposites: biomedical applications and biosafety. J. Mater. Chem. B., 2016, 4(48), 7813-7831.
[21]
(a)Bashir, B.; Shaheen, W.; Asghar, M.; Warsi, M.F.; Khan, M.A.; Haider, S.; Shakir, I.; Shahid, M. Copper doped manganese ferrites nanoparticles anchored on graphene nano-sheets for high performance energy storage applications. J. Alloys Compd., 2017, 695, 881-887.
(b)Fu, M.; Jiao, Q.; Zhao, Y. In situ fabrication and characterization of cobalt ferrite nanorods/graphene composites. Mater. Charact., 2013, 86, 303-315.
(c)Lightcap, I.V.; Kamat, P.V. Graphitic design: Prospects of graphene-based nanocomposites for solar energy conversion, storage, and sensing. Acc. Chem. Res., 2013, 46(10), 2235-2243.
[22]
Yu, X.; Lin, D.; Li, P.; Su, Z. Recent advances in the synthesis and energy applications of TiO2-graphene nanohybrids. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 2017, 172(Supplement . C), 252-269.
[23]
Zhou, Y.; Xiao, B.; Liu, S-Q.; Meng, Z.; Chen, Z-G.; Zou, C-Y.; Liu, C-B.; Chen, F.; Zhou, X. Photo-Fenton degradation of ammonia via a manganese–iron double-active component catalyst of graphene–manganese ferrite under visible light. Chem. Eng. J., 2016, 283, 266-275.
[24]
Ditta, A.; Khan, M.A.; Junaid, M.; Khalil, R.M.A.; Warsi, M.F. Structural, magnetic and spectral properties of Gd and Dy co-doped dielectrically modified Co-Ni (Ni0.4Co0.6Fe2O4) ferrites. Physica B Condens. Matter, 2017, 507, 27-34.
[25]
Eigler, S.; Hof, F.; Enzelberger-Heim, M.; Grimm, S.; Müller, P.; Hirsch, A. Statistical Raman microscopy and atomic force microscopy on heterogeneous graphene obtained after reduction of graphene oxide. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2014, 118(14), 7698-7704.
[26]
Rakhi, R.B.; Alshareef, H.N. Enhancement of the energy storage properties of supercapacitors using graphene nanosheets dispersed with metal oxide-loaded carbon nanotubes. J. Power Sources, 2011, 196(20), 8858-8865.
[27]
Jacob, B.P.; Thankachan, S.; Xavier, S.; Mohammed, E.M. Effect of Tb3+ substitution on structural, electrical and magnetic properties of sol–gel synthesized nanocrystalline nickel ferrite. J. Alloys Compd., 2013, 578, 314-319.
[28]
Shinde, T.J.; Gadkari, A.B.; Vasambekar, P.N. Influence of Nd3+ substitution on structural, electrical and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline nickel ferrites. J. Alloys Compd., 2012, 513, 80-85.
[29]
Ghafoora, A.; Khan, M.A.; Islam, M.U.; Gilani, Z.A.; Manzoor, A.; Khan, H.M.; Ali, I.; Warsi, M.F. Structural and electromagnetic studies of Ni0.7Zn0.3Ho2xFe2-2xO4 ferrites. Ceram. Int., 2016, 42, 14252-14256.
[30]
Fan, Z-J.; Kai, W.; Yan, J.; Wei, T.; Zhi, L-J.; Feng, J.; Ren, Y-m.; Song, L-P.; Wei, F. Facile synthesis of graphene nanosheets via Fe reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide. ACS Nano, 2010, 5(1), 191-198.
[31]
Muthoosamy, K.; Bai, R.G.; Abubakar, I.B.; Sudheer, S.M.; Lim, H.N.; Loh, H.S.; Huang, N.M.; Chia, C.H.; Manickam, S. Exceedingly biocompatible and thin-layered reduced graphene oxide nanosheets using an eco-friendly mushroom extract strategy. Int. J. Nanomedicine, 2015, 10, 1505-1519.
[32]
Dusari, S.; Goyal, N.; Debiasio, M.; Kenda, A. Raman spectroscopy of graphene on AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. Thin Solid Films, 2015, 597, 140-143.
[33]
(a)Dixit, G.; Singh, J.P.; Chen, C.; Dong, C.; Srivastava, R.; Agrawal, H.; Pong, W.; Asokan, K. Study of structural, morphological and electrical properties of Ce doped NiFe2O4 nanoparticles and their electronic structure investigation. J. Alloys Compd., 2013, 581, 178-185.
(b)Aziz, H.S.; Rasheed, S.; Khan, R.A.; Rahim, A.; Nisar, J.; Shah, S.M.; Iqbal, F.; Khan, A.R. Evaluation of electrical, dielectric and magnetic characteristics of Al–La doped nickel spinel ferrites. RSC Adv, 2016, 6(8), 6589-6597.
[34]
(a)Bao, J.; Zhou, J.; Yue, Z.; Li, L.; Gui, Z. Dielectric behavior of Mn-substituted Co2Z hexaferrites. J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2002, 250(Supplement. C), 131-137.
(b)Mahalakshmi, S.; Manja, K.S. AC electrical conductivity and dielectric behavior of nanophase nickel ferrites. J. Alloys Compd., 2008, 457(1), 522-525.
[35]
Warsi, M.F.; Latif, A.; Ajmal, S.; Shahid, M.; Malik, A.S.; Khan, M.A.; Asghar, M.; Aboud, M.F.A. Mg0.8Ca0.2NdxFe2-xO4-graphene nano-heterostructures for various potential applications. Synth. Met., 2017, 232(Supplement . C), 8-16.
[36]
Ain, N-u.; Shaheen, W.; Bashir, B.; Abdelsalam, N.M.; Warsi, M.F.; Khan, M.A.; Shahid, M. Electrical, magnetic and photoelectrochemical activity of rGO/MgFe2O4 nanocomposites under visible light irradiation. Ceram. Int., 2016, 42(10), 12401-12408.
[37]
(a)Zhang, W.; Ma, Y.; Yang, Z.; Tang, X.; Li, X.; He, G.; Cheng, Y.; Fang, Z.; He, R.; Zhang, Y. Analysis of synergistic effect between graphene and octahedral cuprous oxide in cuprous oxide-graphene composites and their photocatalytic application. J. Alloys Compd., 2017, 712, 704-713.
(b)Zhang, W.; Li, X.; Yang, Z.; Tang, X.; Ma, Y.; Li, M.; Hu, N.; Wei, H.; Zhang, Y. In situ preparation of cubic Cu2O-RGO nanocomposites for enhanced visible-light degradation of methyl orange. Nanotechnology, 2016, 27, 265703.
(c)Xiong, K.; Wang, K.; Chen, L.; Wang, X.; Fan, Q.; Courtois, J.; Liu, Y.; Tuo, X.; Yan, M. Heterostructured ZnFe2O4/Fe2TiO5/TiO2 composite nanotube arrays with an improved photocatalysis degradation efficiency under simulated sunlight irradiation. Nano-Micro Lett., 2018, 10(1), 17.
[38]
Rasheed, A.; Mahmood, M.; Ali, U.; Shahid, M.; Shakir, I.; Haider, S.; Khan, M.A.; Warsi, M.F. ZrxCo0.8−xNi0.2−xFe2O4-graphene nanocomposite for enhanced structural, dielectric and visible light photocatalytic applications. Ceram. Int., 2016, 42, 15747-15755.
[39]
Nazim, S.; Kousar, T.; Shahid, M.; Khan, M.A.; Nasar, G.; Sher, M.; Warsi, M.F. New graphene-CoxZn1−xFe2O4 nano-heterostructures: Magnetically separable visible light photocatalytic materials. Ceram. Int., 2016, 42(6), 7647-7654.

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
Article Metrics
29
4
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy