Nanocrystalline copper ferrite: synthesis of different shapes through a new method and its photocatalyst application

Pure CoFe₂O₄ nanostructures were prepared via auto-combustion sol–gel method in presence of different amino acids as a natural fuel. The effect of different amino acids such as leucine, asparagine, and alanine on the size, and morphology of CoFe₂O₄ nanostructures were investigated. The as-obtained CoFe₂O₄ nanostructures were analyzed by UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and X-ray diffraction. The magnetic properties of as-prepared CoFe₂O₄ nanostructures were also investigated with vibrating sample magnetometer. In addition, methyl orange was chosen as a dye water pollution to evaluate its degradation by as-synthesize CoFe₂O₄ under ultraviolet light irradiation. Furthermore, the photocatalysis results reveal that the maximum decolorization of 82 % for methyl orange occurred with CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in 90 min under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation.