Sodium-Barium Binary Ferrite as an Emerging Photo-Catalyst for Simultaneous Degradation of Rhodamine 6G and Crystal Violet
摘要
In this work, the sodium – barium binary ferrite (SBBF) was introduced as smart photo-catalyst for simultaneous photo-degradation of crystal violet (CV) and rhodamine 6G (R-6G) under solar irradiation. By integrating Na₂Fe₁₂O₁₉ and BaFe₂O₄, SBBF demonstrates enhanced photo-catalytic activity due to its optimized nanostructure, facilitating rapid charge separation and minimal electron–hole recombination. Characterization techniques (XRD, AFM, BET, and EDX) confirmed its cubic crystalline structure, high surface area (> 160 cm2/g), mesoporous morphology, and excellent dispersion stability (-45.31 mV zeta potential), making it attractive candidate for photo-catalysis. Photo-catalytic testing revealed that SBBF achieved > 95% degradation of CV and R-6G within 40 min, following pseudo-first-order kinetics. It maintained over 89% efficiency after 15 cycles, showcasing its durability and reusability. The high surface area, porous structure (average pore size 16.53 nm), and strong light absorption contribute to its superior degradation efficiency. Real industrial wastewater treatment with SBBF also demonstrated > 95% dye removal, highlighting its potential for large-scale applications.
Graphical abstract