Ni and Nd effects on Structural properties and photocatalytic activity of Cd nano ferrites prepared by citrate gel method

Abstract: Nanostructured ferrites with the formula NixNdyCd1-xFe2-yO4 (where x=y=0.00 to 0.5 with 0.1 variation) have been prepared using the citrate gel method to investigate their morphological, structural, and photocatalytic properties. Structural properties carried out investigated through X-ray diffraction, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. Morphological studies studied by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed a cubic spinel structure with crystallite sizes ranging from 17 to 30 nm. The successful nano-scale production was confirmed by the microstructure. Compositional integrity was confirmed by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) examination, which confirmed the existence of all expected elements (Fe, Cd, Ni, Nd, and O). Two broad FTIR bands were observed at around the 350 cm-1 and 450 cm-1 wavenumber range, which corresponds to the stretching frequency of tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The preparation of spinel structures was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, which detailed molecular vibrations. The A1g mode, which is responsible for the symmetric stretching of Fe–O bonds in the tetrahedral sites, is usually responsible for the most powerful peak in the Raman spectra, which arises at about 687 cm-1. Two organic dyes, such as methylene blue and acid red, were used to test the nano ferrites' photocatalytic activity when exposed to visible light