Magnetic and photocatalytic properties of n- and p-type ZnFe 2O4 particles synthesized using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Abstract

In the equilibrium state, although ZnFe2O4 is paramagnetic, it is known that its magnetic property can be modified under nonequilibrium perturbations such as rapid cooling. Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis is a kinetic process involving rapid cooling. In this work, ferrimagnetic ZnFe2O4 particles were synthesized successfully. Furthermore, by changing the carrier gas, p-type and n-type ZnFe 2O4 particles were synthesized. The p-type ZnFe 2O4 showed low photocatalytic activity, but n-type ZnFe2O4 showed considerably strong activity against UV light. Recently, synthesis of magnetically separable photocatalyst has been developed with hybrid or composite of ferrite and TiO2. The fact that our ZnFe2O4 particles show both ferrimagnetic and photocatalytic properties indicates that this material will present new vistas as a magnetically separable photocatalyst. © 2013 The Ceramic Society of Japan.