Photocatalytic properties and optical absorption of zinc ferrite nanometer films

In order to make new nanometer photocatalytic films with a photo activity under visible light and high degradation efficiency, ZnFe2O4 films were deposited on a glass substrate by sol–gel method. The morphology of films was examined by atomic force microscopy. The optical absorption of films and the degradation concentration of methyl orange were measured by atomic absorption spectrum. The results show that the absorption band of ZnFe2O4 films shift to visible light regions up to a wavelength of 540 nm and the degradation efficiency of ZnFe2O4 films is more than 30% under xenon lamp irradiation.