Structural, Morphological, Optical, Magnetic and Photocatalytic Properties of ZnO/CoFe2O4 Nanocomposites

• Published in: Kinetics and catalysis Vol. 64; no. 5; pp. 603 - 615
• Main Authors: Yadav, Dheeraj, Shukla, Rajni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.10.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cobalt ferrites; Composite materials; Cubic lattice; Field emission microscopy; Fourier transforms; Infrared spectroscopy; Magnetic properties; Methylene blue; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Photocatalysis; Physical Chemistry; Spectrum analysis; Ultraviolet radiation; Wurtzite; Zinc oxide; coprecipitation; sono chemical; Zno/CoFe; methylene blue dye; spinel structure; hexagonal wurtzite structure nanocomposites; photocatalysis; O
• ISSN: 0023-1584; 1608-3210
• DOI: 10.1134/S0023158423050129

ZnO and CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized via coprecipitation route and the composites ZnO/CoFe 2 O 4 (ZC1 (3 : 2), ZC2 (2 : 3), ZC3 (1 : 4)) were obtained by the sonochemical process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study reveals the existence of two phases in the material: a hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO and a cubic lattice structure of CoFe 2 O 4 . The flower-shaped rod-like structure of ZnO nanoparticles and agglomeration of CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles are observed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Light absorbance performance of the material is determined by using UV–Vis spectroscopy. Further, the band gap of pure and composite materials is calculated by employing a Tauc plot. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) reveals the creation of cationic and anionic bonding at different interstitial sites. The magnetic properties of the material were studied using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Various magnetic parameters, for instance M s , M r , H c , n B , and M r / M s ratio were traced from M – H loops. The photocatalytic performance of the materials under UV irradiation is examined through degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The efficiency of composite ZC1 is found to be better than that of pure ZnO, CoFe 2 O 4 and composites ZC2 and ZC3.