Photocatalytic Activities of CdO-Fe₂O₃, CdO-CuFe₂O₄ and CdO-ZnFe₂O₄ Nanocomposites

Abstract

Magnetically separable CdO-Fe 2 O 3 , CdO-CuFe 2 O 4 and CdO-ZnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites have been prepared by precipitation method. The X-ray diffractogram shows face centered cubic CdO, cubic CdO 2 , rhombohedral α-Fe 2 O 3 , orthorhombic β-Fe 2 O 3 , cubic γ-Fe 2 O 3 and tetragonal FeOOH as the constituents of CdO-Fe 2 O 3 composite. The components of CdO-CuFe 2 O 4 composite are face centered cubic CdO, body centered tetragonal CuFe 2 O 4 and cubic γ-Fe 2 O 3 . Face centered cubic CdO and ZnFe 2 O 4 , cubic γ-Fe 2 O 3 and rhombohedral α-Fe 2 O 3 are the constituents of CdO-ZnFe 2 O 4 composite. The energy dispersive X-ray spectra confirm the presence of the corresponding elements and provide the composition. The scanning electron micrographs show that the composite particles are of spherical shape and of nanodimension. The composites absorb visible light. The charge transfer resistances of the composites are larger than their constituents. CdO-Fe 2 O 3 and CdO-CuFe 2 O 4 composites display ferromagnetic behavior. The visible light-photocatalytic activities and bactericidal activities of the composites are larger than their precursors.