Enhanced Photodegradation of Organic Pollutants by Novel Samarium-Doped Zinc Aluminium Spinel Ferrites

ZnAlFe1−xSmxO4 (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08) spinel ferrites were successfully obtained for the first time via a sol–gel autocombustion technique using citric acid as combustion/chelating agent. These materials then employed photocatalysts degradation of Evans Blue, considered herein model organic pollutant. The XRD and FTIR analysis confirmed achievement pure ferrite structures all materials. TEM showed that average particle sizes decline from about 27 undoped material to 17 nm samarium-doped materials, magnetic characterization at room temperature indicated paramagnetic conduct studied samples. All active in Blue photodegradation. best photocatalytic performances observed ZnAlFe0.94Sm0.06O4 formulation explained by smallest values calculated lattice parameter, interplanar distance, particle-size values. By adding H2O2 applying modelling optimization process material, half-life pollutant decreased significantly 115 min 7 (about 16-times), colour-removal efficiency was almost 100%.