Structural and magnetic properties of sol-gel autocombustion and microwave synthesized nickel ferrite nanoparticles and their photocatalytic and anti-microbial applications

Nickel Ferrite was synthesized from its nitrate precursors via sol–gel auto combustion method and microwave synthesis with ethylene glycol as fuel. The phase identification was carried out by XRD and the crystalline size was calculated. The Williamson- Hall plot was drawn and lattice strain and crystallite size was determined. The spinel structure of ferrite was confirmed using FTIR spectra. The morphology of samples were studied from HR-TEM. The UV–Visible spectra of samples were obtained and the band gap was determined from Tauc plot. The magnetic properties of samples were studied using VSM. The antibacterial activity of samples on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was studied by well diffusion method. Their photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange under UV light was carried out and studied using UV–Visible Spectrophotometry.