Author : Sumaira Altaf, Muhammad Aslam Aflatoon, Nasrullah, 3Muhammad Asim Rauf, Abdul Shakoor, Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Sohail Ahmad, Ali Jawad, Muhammad Mobin Ul Haq and Abid Munir

This study investigated cobalt-doped nickel ferrites as photocatalysts for dye degradation. The cobalt-doped nickel ferromagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized using the co-precipitation method. The band gap was measured with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, revealing values between 2.32 eV and 2.20 eV. The spinel structure of the ferrites was characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to ascertain the morphology and average size of the synthesized nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed metal-oxygen bonds in the range of 400–1000 cm⁻¹. The photocatalytic degradation of dyes under UV radiation and direct sunlight was evaluated, demonstrating a degradation efficiency of approximately 72% to 92% for methylene blue within the first 100 minutes, attributed to the active octahedral and tetrahedral lattice sites that minimize electron-hole recombination. The photocatalytic activity of Co-NiFe₂O₄ was assessed using methylene blue (MB) and various textile dyes, establishing it as an effective photocatalyst for sewage treatment.

Keywords: Cobalt-doped nickel ferrites; Photocatalysis; Dye degradation; Sewage treatment