Synthesis, characterization, and dye degradation photocatalytic activity of the nano-size copper iron binary oxide

Magnetic nano-size copper iron binary oxide is synthesized via a sol–gel method using copper and iron nitrates as precursors and citric acid, chicken egg white, and starch as stabilizers followed by annealing at 400 °C and 800 °C in air. The TG-DTG, XRD, FESEM, EDX, VSM, and FT-IR and UV–Vis DRS spectroscopy methods are used for thermal, structural, magnetic, and optoelectronic characterizations. Depending on the stabilizer and annealing temperature, pure CuFe2O4, (CuFe2O4,CuO) or (CuFe2O4,CuO,Fe2O3) phases are formed with nano-size particles of 20–65 nm, having optical band gaps in the range of 2.15–2.60 eV (577–477 nm). Photocatalytic activities of the synthesized nano-size copper iron binary oxide samples are examined for degradation of Nile Blue textile dye displayed first-cycle removal (from water solution) efficiencies of 86.7–93.3%. Considering usage of non-toxic metals and low-cost green stabilizers, good degradation performances, and easy/efficient (magnetic) recyclability, this nano-size catalyst is suggested for further optimization studies for industrial applications.