Synthesis of Nanostructured Fibers of Nickel-Zinc Ferrite and Study of Their Photocatalytic Activity

Nickel-zinc ferrite fibers Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ of various morphologies were synthesized. The X-ray phase analysis showed that the samples correspond to the nickel-zinc ferrite phase. Scanning electron microscopy data confirm that the studied samples of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ fibers consist of nano-sized particles. The band gaps determined by the optical method for both samples of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ fibers were 1.46 and 1.58 eV, which is lower than for Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanopowders. The kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in the presence of ferrite fibers under artificial illumination was studied. The ferrite fiber sample with pores and the smallest band gap has the greatest photocatalytic activity.