The effects of fuel type onto the structural, morphological, magnetic and photocatalytic properties of nanoparticles in the synthesis of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles with microwave assisted combustion method

Abstract In this experimental study, the synthesis of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles, one of the most important types of ferromagnetic spinel ferrite materials was realized by using a method known as microwave assisted combustion method. The effects of the substance used as fuel on the structural, morphological, magnetic and photocatalytic properties of synthesized nanoparticles were investigated. Firstly, samples were prepared using urea, glycine and citric acid as fuel and then the samples were comprehensively characterized by advanced analysis techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, VSM, BET. Moreover, the usability of the obtained nanoparticles in photocatalytic degradation process of Procion Yellow H-E3G textile dye as photocatalyst was investigated. The results obtained indicate that the fuel used is highly effective on various properties of the synthesized materials. From the experiments performed to evaluate the photocatalytic performances of the nanoparticles, it was observed that each of the three different fuel matters used for the synthesis of nanoparticles were highly effective on the photocatalytic degradation of the organic pollutant. Furthermore, almost all the dye content in solution was completely removed at the end of the experimental period which lasted for 90 min.