Binary metal doped spinel ferrite nanoparticles and their Nano hybrid with MXene matrix to enhance catalytic properties

Interlocked cobalt-substituted magnesium zinc ferrite nanoparticles and their composites with MXene (Ti3C2Tx) were synthesized by the micro-emulsion technique. The as-synthesized Nano hybrid material Mg0.6Zn0.2Co0.2Fe2O4/MXene shows the best photocatalytic performance as compared to the pristine Mg0.6Zn0.2Co0.2Fe2O4 and MXene. The incorporation of Mg0.6Zn0.2Co0.2Fe2O4 nanoparticles (Nps) into MXene sheets not only avoids the restacking of MXene flakes but also provides a larger surface area to enhance its photocatalytic performance. The prepared samples were investigated through the X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms-infrared (FT-IR) analysis, and UV–vis spectrum analysis. By the wavelength vs. absorbance spectra, the observed band-gap values of the fabricated Mg0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 and Mg0.6Zn0.2Co0.2Fe2O4 were 1.96 eV and 1.94 eV respectively. The calculated crystalline size of the fabricated samples Mg0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4, Mg0.6Zn0.2Co0.2Fe2O4, and Mg0.6Zn0.2Co0.2Fe2O4/MXene was 10.7 nm, 9.3 nm, and 8.37 nm respectively. The catalytic efficiency of the synthesized samples was checked through the photodegradation of Congo red (CR) and benzoic acid (BA) pollutants. The observed photodegradation proficiency of Mg0.6Zn0.2 Co0.2Fe2O4/MXene material is 78.23% for 50 ppm Congo-red (CR) and 53.7% for 10 ppm. Furthermore, the efficiency of the photocatalyst was also checked by using different concentrations of CR dye and photocatalyst. In addition to this, the recyclability test was also evaluated to check the stability of the prepared photocatalyst for four cycles which showed a minimal decline in the activity of the photocatalyst from 78.23 to 70 % after four runs. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Mg0.6Zn0.2 Co0.2Fe2O4/MXene is attributed to the presence of MXene which provides larger surface active sites for the better catalytic reaction.