Fe-Cu composites preparation using Cu-Zn ferrite and their electrocatalytic application

Fe-Cu composites were synthesized from Cu0,5Zn0,5Fe2O4 ferrite samples prepared using a co-precipitation method without and with a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) followed by heat treatment and electrochemical reduction. The phase constitutions and morphological features of the produced Cu-Zn ferrites and Fe-Cu com-posites were analyzed. The thermal stability of Cu-Zn-ferrites in the temperature range of 500-900 degrees C and the effect of the annealing temperature and PVP polymer on the electrochemical reduction were established. The resulting Fe-Cu composites were used as catalysts in the electrohydrogenation of p-nitroaniline. The Fe-Cu composites formed from Cu0,5Zn0,5Fe2O4 + PVP samples exhibited good electrocatalytic activity in this pro-cess, increasing the p-nitroaniline hydrogenation rate to 8.2-8.3 mL H2/min compared with 6.6 mL H2/min in its electrochemical reduction. The p-nitroaniline conversion increased to 99-100 % with the selective formation of p-phenylenediamine.

Automated summary

Fe-Cu composites were synthesized using Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 ferrite samples prepared through co-precipitation, heat treatment, and electrochemical reduction with and without PVP. The phase constitutions and morphological features of Cu-Zn ferrites and Fe-Cu composites were analyzed. The Fe-Cu composites showed good electrocatalytic activity in the electrohydrogenation of p-nitroaniline, increasing the hydrogenation rate and achieving high selectivity for p-phenylenediamine.