Fabrication of ZnFe2O4 films and its application in photoelectrocatalytic degradation of salicylic acid.

ZnFe2O4 thin films are successfully deposited onto bare and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated quartz substrate using the spray pyrolysis method. The structure and morphology of ZnFe2O4 photoelectrodes were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The X-ray diffraction pattern confirms the polycrystalline nature of films with a spinel cubic crystal structure. The AFM micrographs shows the granular nature of the films. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss shows dispersion behavior as a function of frequency measured in the range from 20Hz to 1MHz. Photoelectrocatalysis degradation of salicylic acid using ZnFe2O4 photoelectrode under sunlight illumination has been investigated. The result shows that the degradation percentage of salicylic acid on ZnFe2O4 photoelectrodes is reached 49% under neutral conditions after 320min illumination. The decrease in values of COD from 19.4mg/L to 6.4mg/L indicates there is mineralization of salicylic acid with time.