Spinel CuCo2O4 Nanoparticles: Facile One-Step Synthesis, Optical, and Electrochemical properties

Nanocrystalline CuCo2O4 spinel structure was prepared by a facile one-step route without any surfactant. The materials physio-chemical properties were systematically investigated with different analytical methods. It is observed that the spinel type CuCo2O4 nanoparticles showed interesting multi-functional features for both optical and electrochemical applications. Typical x-ray diffraction pattern indicates the growth of well-crystalline CuCo2O4 nanoparticles with a cubic spinel structure. From the transmission electron microscope images, a uniform particle distribution with an average size of similar to 20 nm can be seen. UV-visible spectrum shows the absorption maximum at 264.5 nm and exhibits an optical band gap 4.02 eV. Electrochemical analysis further reveals the pseudo-capacitive behaviour with the specific capacitance of 290 F g(-1) at 2mA cm(-2). In addition, the magnetic study of CuCo2O4 substantiates the presence of room temperature weak ferromagnetic ordering at low magnetic field strength.