Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of magnetic and photocatalytic property of CuFe2−xLaxO4 nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present study, lanthanum doped copper ferrite (CuFe2−xLaxO4) nanoparticles were prepared via a green method with the aid of copper (II) nitrate, iron (III) nitrate, lanthanum (III) nitrate and starch. Starch plays role as capping agent, and reducing in the synthesis of CuFe2−xLaxO4 nanoparticles. The formation of pure crystallized CuFe2−xLaxO4 nanocrystals occurred when the precursor was heat-treated at 800 °C in air for 2 h. The structural, morphological and optical properties of as-obtained products were characterized by techniques such as XRD, EDS, SEM, and UV–visible. The magnetic properties of as-prepared CuFe2−xLaxO4 nanoparticles were also investigated with vibrating sample magnetometer. Furthermore, the photocatalytic properties of as-synthesized CuFe2−xLaxO4 were evaluated by degradation of methyl orange as water contaminant.