Mossbauer study of Cu1-xZnxFe2O4 catalytic materials

Copper zinc ferrites (Cu1-xZnxFe2O4) with different composition (x = 1; 0.2; 0.5; 0.8) were prepared by conventional thermal method. Formation of well crystallized ferrite phase with cubic structure and crystallites size of about 19.08-24.39 nm was observed by Powder X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The ferrite materials were tested as catalysts in methanol decomposition to CO and H-2. A strong dependence of the catalytic behaviour of Cu1-xZnxFe2O4 ferrites of their composition and the phase transformations which occurred under the reaction medium was established.