Green Synthesis of Nanomagnetic Copper and Cobalt Ferrites Using Corchorus Olitorius

Abstract

This study aims to develop a self-combustion method for use in the preparation of copper and cobalt ferrites. This development was based on the full use of dry leaves of Corchorus olitorius plant in order to stimulate the preparation of the studied ferrites by making full use of the small amount of carbon produced from the combustion process. The fabrication of CuFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 with spinel-type structures and the Fd3m space group is confirmed by XRD and FTIR investigations. Two major vibration bands occur laterally at 400 cm−1 and 600 cm−1. We were able to understand the existence of two stages through the thermal behavior based on TG-DTG analysis for the materials under investigation. The first is from room temperature to 600 °C, which indicates the formation of reacting oxides with Co or Cu ferrites, while the second is from 600–1000 °C, which indicates the growth in the ferrite fabrication. The surface morphological analyses (SEM/EDS and TEM) display formation of homogeneous and nanosized particles. The surface properties of the samples containing CoFe2O4 are superior compared to those of the samples not containing CuFe2O4. Every sample under investigation displays type-IV-based isotherms with a type-H3 hysteresis loop. The VSM approach was used to evaluate the magnetic characteristics of Cu and Co ferrites. Copper ferrites have a magnetization of 15.77 emu/g, and cobalt ferrites have a magnetization of 19.14 emu/g. Moreover, the squareness (0.263) and coercivity (716.15 G) of cobalt ferrite are higher than those of copper ferrite.

Keywords

• XRD
• FTIR
• SEM/EDS
• TEM
• S_BET
• CuFe₂O₄