The Influence of Reaction Medium pH on the Structure, Optical, and Mechanical Properties of Nanosized Cu-Fe Ferrite Synthesized by the Sol-Gel Autocombustion Method

Abstract

Nanoscale mixed ferrites with a spinel structure are highly versatile materials widely employed across diverse fields, including engineering, biomedicine, and ecology. This study explores the influence of pH on the structure, morphology, electrophysical, and mechanical properties of CuFe2O4 spinel, synthesized using the sol-gel self-combustion method. The investigation reveals that the pH level significantly impacts the structure formation, even at the gel formation stage, thereby shaping the subsequent structure and properties of the synthesized ferrite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrates that the dominant phase (>90%) corresponds to the cubic spinel phase with the chemical formula CuFe2O4, belonging to the Fd3m space group. Notably, the pH of the reaction medium exerts a profound influence on the distribution of iron and copper ions within the octahedral and tetrahedral sublattices of the spinel structure. This variation in cationic distribution manifests in notable changes in the synthesized ferrite's magnetic, mechanical, and degradation properties. Furthermore, the study delves into the impact of the synthesized CuFe2O4 spinel as a photocatalyst for degrading organic dyes through the photo-Fenton process. It demonstrates that degradation efficiency is closely related to the ferrite's band gap width and particle size. This study aimed to determine how the pH of the reaction medium impacts the structure, morphology, optical, mechanical, and magnetic characteristics of the nanosized ferrites being synthesized. Furthermore, the synthesized materials were evaluated for their photocatalytic abilities in degrading organic dyes in water. The ferrite powders showcased remarkable dye degradation capabilities via the photo-Fenton process. Degradation efficiency largely hinged on the band gap width and the size of the particles. The most notable outcome was achieved with sample P1, which had particle sizes averaging 12.14 nm. By unraveling the complex relationship between pH, structure, and properties, this research enhances our understanding of the design and optimization of nanoscale mixed ferrites.