Nanostructured ferrites: Structural analysis and catalytic activity

In this work, we have investigated the structural and catalytic properties of Co, Cu and Ni spinel ferrites. Nanostructured ferrites with particle diameters varying from 3 to 10 nm were obtained by the co-precipitation process. X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used for chemical and structural characterization. The catalytic efficiency of the samples was evaluated by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and by the oxidation of methylene blue, monitored via UV–vis spectrophotometry. We observed that the presence of cobalt ions is a crucial factor required to achieve a systematic efficiency of the catalyst in the H2O2 decomposition. In contrast, Cu ferrites presented the better performance in methylene blue oxidation, which can be attributed to the different redox properties of Cu and the easier availability of electrons to participate in the oxidation of organic compounds.