Spinel ferrites with a compatible electronic band structure are always excellent candidates for photo-catalytic environmental detoxification employing visible light and solar energy. However, the potential is not harnessed to its fullest owing to unnerving charge carrier recombination. In this work, we report the synthesis of Ni_1-xZn_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, & 0.5) mixed spinel ferrites via combustion route. As prepared samples were characterized for phase identification using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Reitveld refined pattern confirms the formation of single phased cubic structure with a nano-metric crystallite size.

The homogeneous distribution of grains and particles is evidenced by shape and size morphological studies. Raman spectroscopy reveals the presence of motion of oxygen in tetrahedral and octahedral voids. The dc electrical resistivity measured using the two probe method is found to be in the range of 10⁷ to 10⁸ Ω-cm. The optical band gap measured for all photo-catalysts resides at 2.11–2.53 eV. The ferrite photocatalyst exhibits high visible absorption, superior charge transfer capacity, and highly suppressed recombination as suggested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and photoluminescence results. The change in band structure with variable Zn content was monitored by shifting of conduction and valence bands. The photo-catalyst Ni_0.7Zn_0.3Fe₂O₄ (N2) exhibited 96.8% levofloxacin (LEV) degradation in 90 min of visible light exposure. The effect of parameters such as pH, catalyst dosage, electrolytes and water matrix was analysed in detail. The photo-catalytic degradation rate was enhanced in the presence of persulfate and H₂O₂. Furthermore, the high magnetic character of the catalysts aids in their retrieval post utilization in catalysis. In terms of band structure analysis, role of dopants, metal redox, and scavenging studies, a suitable photo-catalytic process was proposed. Degradation intermediates discovered by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis were also recommended as a pathway of degradation. These findings open up exciting possibilities for developing novel solar active photo-catalytic systems based on spinel ferrites for efficient environmental cleanup.

具有兼容电子能带结构的尖晶石铁氧体一直是利用可见光和太阳能进行光催化环境解毒的绝佳候选材料。然而，由于令人不安的电荷载流子重组，潜力没有被充分利用。在这项工作中，我们报告了通过燃烧途径合成 Ni _1-x Zn _x Fe ₂ O ₄ (x = 0、0.1、0.3 和 0.5) 混合尖晶石铁氧体。由于使用 X 射线衍射 (XRD) 对制备的样品进行了相识别表征，Reitveld 精制图案证实了具有纳米级微晶尺寸的单相立方结构的形成。

颗粒和颗粒的均匀分布由形状和尺寸形态学研究证明。拉曼光谱揭示了四面体和八面体空隙中氧运动的存在。发现使用双探针法测量的直流电阻率在 10 ⁷到 10 ⁸ Ω-cm的范围内。对所有光催化剂测量的光学带隙位于 2.11-2.53  eV。电化学阻抗谱和光致发光结果表明，铁氧体光催化剂具有高可见光吸收、优异的电荷转移能力和高度抑制的复合。通过导带和价带的移动来监测具有可变锌含量的能带结构的变化。光触媒 Ni _0.7 Zn_0.3 Fe ₂ O ₄ (N2) 在可见光照射 90 分钟内表现出 96.8% 的左氧氟沙星 (LEV) 降解。详细分析了pH值、催化剂用量、电解质和水基质等参数的影响。过硫酸盐和H ₂ O ₂存在时光催化降解率提高. 此外，催化剂的高磁性有助于它们在催化中的回收利用。在能带结构分析、掺杂剂的作用、金属氧化还原和清除研究方面，提出了一种合适的光催化工艺。通过液相色谱-质谱分析发现的降解中间体也被推荐为降解途径。这些发现为开发基于尖晶石铁氧体的新型太阳能活性光催化系统提供了令人兴奋的可能性，以实现有效的环境净化。