Synthesis of CoFe2O4 through Wet Ferritization Method Using an Aqueous Extract of Eucalyptus Leaves

This study explored a new green approach of the wet ferritization method to obtain magnetic cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) by using eucalyptus leaves aqueous extract as a reducing/chelating/capping agent. The spinel single cubic phases of prepared samples were proved by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The average crystallite size is in the range between 3 and 20 nm. The presence of the functional groups coating the obtained material is confirmed from FTIR and thermal analysis. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a morphology consisting of nanoparticle aggregates. Raman spectroscopy detects the characteristic bands of spinel-type CoFe2O4. Magnetic investigations reveal the formation of ferromagnetic compounds with cubic magnetic anisotropy and a blocking temperature around 140 K, specific for this type of material. The biosynthesized CoFe2O4 could be an attractive candidate for biomedical applications, exhibiting promising antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria and fungal strains.

Automated summary

This study investigated a new method called wet ferritization to produce magnetic cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) using eucalyptus leaves aqueous extract. The prepared samples showed single cubic phases of cobalt ferrite confirmed by various analysis techniques. The biosynthesized CoFe2O4 showed potential for biomedical applications with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Gram-negative bacteria and fungal strains.