One pot molten salt synthesis and photocatalytic studies of magnetically separable copper ferrite microcrystals

The preparation of tetragonal and cubic structured CuFe2O4 microcrystals by the one-pot molten salt synthesis in a eutectic mixture of NaCl-KCl molten salts at 800-900 degrees C is reported. Phase evolution and single-phase formation of CuFe2O4 on temperature and soaking period effect were studied. The structure and morphology of the synthesized compounds were investigated using techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Microscopy studies revealed microcrystals of CuFe2O4 in an octahedron morphology. Photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed the existence of surface oxygen defects on both prepared compounds. The photocatalytic studies of tetragonal and cubic structured CuFe2O4 catalysts shown 89% and 93% degradation of the Rhodamine-B (RhB) dye, respectively, under UV-A (366 nm) irradiation in 90 min. Photocatalytic and magnetic studies indicate that these CuFe2O4 samples are suitable magnetic separable photocatalysts for efficient dye degradation, and can be reasonably reused.

Automated summary

In this study, tetragonal and cubic structured CuFe2O4 microcrystals were successfully prepared using a one-pot molten salt synthesis method at 800-900 degrees C. The synthesized compounds exhibited surface oxygen defects and showed promising photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine-B dye under UV-A irradiation. These CuFe2O4 samples were found to be suitable magnetic separable photocatalysts for efficient dye degradation and could be reused effectively.