Solvent-free preparation of copper ferrite microspheres composed of nanorods using a new coordination compound as precursor

Abstract

This work presents a simple solvent-free route based on solid-state thermal decomposition approach to synthesize magnetic copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) microspheres and copper ferrite/metal oxide composites. For this purpose, [Cu(en)3]3[Fe(ox)3]2 complex (where en = ethylenediamine and ox = oxalate) was introduced as a new single-source precursor. Ferromagnetic property of the nanostructures was determined by alternating gradient force magnetometer. The effect of different ligands and temperatures on the morphology of the products was investigated. Solid-state thermal decomposition of the precursor at different temperatures in the range of 400–800 °C led to the fabrication of magnetic copper ferrites with various particle sizes. X-ray powder diffraction patterns and images of scanning electron microscopy showed formation of CuFe2O4/Fe2O3 microspheres with very smooth surfaces and CuFe2O4/CuO microspheres coated with nanorods by thermal decomposition of the precursor at 400 and 700 °C, respectively. The results confirmed that copper ferrite and CuFe2O4/CuO nanocomposites were suitable materials with appropriate performance in catalyst and photo-catalytic applications.