Synthesis, characterization and photo-catalytic activity of magnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles prepared by temperature controlled co-precipitation method

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nano-particles were synthesized by temperature controlled co-precipitation method using cobalt chloride and iron chloride as the precursor materials. CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as prepared were annealed at 500 degrees C for 4 hrs and then subjected to structural and microstructural characterization. The structural characterization of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructural, morphological and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) studies reveals grain size, surface morphology and elemental composition of the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. The crystallite size was estimated by Scherrer's formula for as prepared and annealed nanoparticles. The variation of crystallite size with annealing temperature was explored. The particle size, inter-planar distance, phase and Miller indices were estimated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and correlated with XRD results. The photo-catalytic activity of as prepared and annealed CoFe2O4 nanoparticles was studied for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation and the results are compared. Copyright (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Advanced Materials.