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

Abstract

ZnO and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via coprecipitation route and the composites ZnO/CoFe2O4 (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 CoFe2O4. The flower-shaped rod-like structure of ZnO nanoparticles and agglomeration of CoFe2O4 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 Ms, Mr, Hc, nB, and Mr/Ms 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, CoFe2O4 and composites ZC2 and ZC3.