Facile Co-precipitation-calcination Synthesis of CuCo2O4 Nanostructures using Novel Precursors for Degradation of Azo Dyes

The present investigation reports a simple co-precipitation-calcination process for synthesizing copper cobaltite (CuCo2O4) nanostructures with different morphologies such as nanasphere, nanorods, and nanosheets using [Cu(en)2(H2O)2]Cl2 and [Co(en)3](NO3)3 as novel precursors. The obtained nanostructures were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR and DRS. Effect of precipitating agent, surfactant, and calcination temperature on morphology of prepared nanostructures was well studied. Moreover, the efficiency of CuCo2O4 nanostructures as a photocatalyst for the decolorization of azo dyes including Acid Brown 14 (AB14) and Acid Red 88 (AR88) using ultraviolet and visible light irradiation was evaluated and more than 79% of AB14 and 89% of AR88 were decolorized under UV light after 90 min, respectively. Also, the effect of particle size and morphology on the photocatalytic activity was evaluated.