Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes

This paper reports the successful synthesis of spinel-type CuFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles with an average particle size of 24 nm, produced using the citrate sol–gel autocombustion method. The structure of the synthesized material was analyzed through x-ray diffraction (XRD) and further supported by R...

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Main Authors: Julia Mazurenko, A. K. Sijo, Larysa Kaykan, Volodymyr Kotsyubynsky, Łukasz Gondek, Antoni Zywczak, Mateusz Marzec, Oleksii Vyshnevskyi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Nanotechnology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jnt/8899491
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author Julia Mazurenko
A. K. Sijo
Larysa Kaykan
Volodymyr Kotsyubynsky
Łukasz Gondek
Antoni Zywczak
Mateusz Marzec
Oleksii Vyshnevskyi
author_facet Julia Mazurenko
A. K. Sijo
Larysa Kaykan
Volodymyr Kotsyubynsky
Łukasz Gondek
Antoni Zywczak
Mateusz Marzec
Oleksii Vyshnevskyi
author_sort Julia Mazurenko
collection DOAJ
description This paper reports the successful synthesis of spinel-type CuFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles with an average particle size of 24 nm, produced using the citrate sol–gel autocombustion method. The structure of the synthesized material was analyzed through x-ray diffraction (XRD) and further supported by Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy. The analysis confirmed that the material formed a spinel ferrite structure with the Fd3m space group. Valence states and energy levels of the elements were examined using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coupled with elemental analysis. The magnetic properties of the synthesized CuFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles were investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Magnetization measurements revealed that the sample exhibited characteristic magnetic parameters of copper ferrite, with a saturation magnetization (Ms) of 23.10 emu/g, a coercivity Hc of 415 Oe, and a remnant magnetization (Mr) of 12.80 emu/g. These magnetic properties enable efficient magnetic separation of the nanoparticles from aqueous solutions, thereby enhancing process efficiency and minimizing catalyst loss during photocatalytic applications. Optical and photocatalytic properties were investigated using spectrophotometry, revealing an optical band gap of 1.85 eV, which demonstrates potential for photocatalytic activity under visible light. The CuFe2O4 ferrite effectively degraded dyes such as methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG), Safranine (S), Congo Red (CR), and Rhodamine B (RhB) within 180 min, highlighting its practical application potential. The study identified that hydroxyl radicals (·OH), generated from H2O2 decomposition under visible light irradiation, played a critical role in enhancing the efficiency of the photo-Fenton reaction. A proposed mechanism involves the excitation of CuFe2O4 under visible light, facilitating electron transfer that leads to the generation of ·OH radicals, which degrade the dye molecules. Among the tested dyes, CR exhibited the highest degradation percentage with a rate constant of 0.033 min⁻1 and followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration on dye degradation efficiency was also evaluated.
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spelling doaj-art-76a9d0f09e0744efa6cbb58fa7af90b12025-02-01T00:00:03ZengWileyJournal of Nanotechnology1687-95112025-01-01202510.1155/jnt/8899491Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic DyesJulia Mazurenko0A. K. Sijo1Larysa Kaykan2Volodymyr Kotsyubynsky3Łukasz Gondek4Antoni Zywczak5Mateusz Marzec6Oleksii Vyshnevskyi7Department of Medical Informatics, Medical and Biological PhysicsDepartment of PhysicsG. V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics of the N.A.S. of UkraineDepartment of Materials Science and New TechnologiesDepartment of Solid-State PhysicsDepartment of Quantum Effects in NanostructuresDepartment of Surface Nanoengineering and BiomaterialsDepartment of DiamondThis paper reports the successful synthesis of spinel-type CuFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles with an average particle size of 24 nm, produced using the citrate sol–gel autocombustion method. The structure of the synthesized material was analyzed through x-ray diffraction (XRD) and further supported by Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy. The analysis confirmed that the material formed a spinel ferrite structure with the Fd3m space group. Valence states and energy levels of the elements were examined using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coupled with elemental analysis. The magnetic properties of the synthesized CuFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles were investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Magnetization measurements revealed that the sample exhibited characteristic magnetic parameters of copper ferrite, with a saturation magnetization (Ms) of 23.10 emu/g, a coercivity Hc of 415 Oe, and a remnant magnetization (Mr) of 12.80 emu/g. These magnetic properties enable efficient magnetic separation of the nanoparticles from aqueous solutions, thereby enhancing process efficiency and minimizing catalyst loss during photocatalytic applications. Optical and photocatalytic properties were investigated using spectrophotometry, revealing an optical band gap of 1.85 eV, which demonstrates potential for photocatalytic activity under visible light. The CuFe2O4 ferrite effectively degraded dyes such as methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG), Safranine (S), Congo Red (CR), and Rhodamine B (RhB) within 180 min, highlighting its practical application potential. The study identified that hydroxyl radicals (·OH), generated from H2O2 decomposition under visible light irradiation, played a critical role in enhancing the efficiency of the photo-Fenton reaction. A proposed mechanism involves the excitation of CuFe2O4 under visible light, facilitating electron transfer that leads to the generation of ·OH radicals, which degrade the dye molecules. Among the tested dyes, CR exhibited the highest degradation percentage with a rate constant of 0.033 min⁻1 and followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration on dye degradation efficiency was also evaluated.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jnt/8899491
spellingShingle Julia Mazurenko
A. K. Sijo
Larysa Kaykan
Volodymyr Kotsyubynsky
Łukasz Gondek
Antoni Zywczak
Mateusz Marzec
Oleksii Vyshnevskyi
Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes
Journal of Nanotechnology
title Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes
title_full Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes
title_fullStr Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes
title_short Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes
title_sort synthesis and characterization of copper ferrite nanoparticles for efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jnt/8899491
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