Elaboration and characterization of Zn1−xCoxFe2O4 spinel ferrites magnetic material: application as heterogeneous catalysts in styrene oxidation

A simple and efficient synthesis of cobalt and zinc spinel ferrite nanoparticles Zn_1−xCo_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.5) by sol–gel (SG) and co-precipitation methods was successfully developed as a heterogeneous catalyst for styrene oxidation using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant and acetonitrile as an effective solvent. The structural properties of the nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopies. Morphological analysis was determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The investigation showed that Zn_0.5Co_0.5Fe₂O₄ prepared via the SG method exhibited promising catalytic activity towards styrene epoxide with a conversion rate of 75% and a notable selectivity of 60%. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated excellent stability and efficiency after five successive runs. Density functional theory and non-covalent interactions analysis were used to gain deeper insight into the mechanistic aspect.