Photocatalytic degradation of Brilliant Red M5B using four different nanocomposites (ZnFe2O4, porous ZnFe2O4, ZnFe2O4–TiO2, FeTiO3) coated on glass

This paper presents the preparation, characterization, and application of four different nanocomposites in photocatalytic degradation of the Brilliant Red M5B as a dye contaminant. Nanocomposites include ZnFe2O4, porous ZnFe2O4, ZnFe2O4–TiO2, and FeTiO3 prepared and coated on a glass slide by doctor blade method. Different techniques to characterize composites are X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). FESEM shows that nanocomposites are nanocrystallines and a narrow dispersion in size. XRD confirms that the prepared nanocomposites are composed of ZnFe2O4, FeTiO3 and TiO2. Degradation efficiency of composites is evaluated using Brilliant Red M5B as a model pollutant under UV irradiation with homemade photocatalytic apparatus. The results showed that the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnFe2O4–TiO2 is higher than that of other photocatalyst, which is mainly ascribed to ZnFe2O4 NPs with the spinel structure.