Microwave-assisted green synthesis of Binary/Ternary Zn_XCo_1-xFe₂O₄ (x=0, 0.5, 1) nanoparticles

In this study, magnetic binary/ternary Zn_XCo_1-xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.5, 1) nanoparticles were synthesized using a straightforward one-step microwave technique. To produce the Zn_XCo_1-xFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, Iron (III) nitrate nonahydrate, Zinc nitrate hexahydrate, and Cobalt nitrate hexahydrate were used as metal sources, with urea as the fuel and ammonium nitrate as the oxidizer. These materials were combined in an alumina crucible covered by a CuO jacket to absorb microwave energy and facilitate calcination. The thermal treatment involved placing the alumina crucible in a domestic microwave oven at 450 W for 30 minutes. The key strength of this experimental strategy includes its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and rapidity, aligning with green chemistry principles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of pure ferrite nanocrystalline phase. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) was explored to study the surface morphology and analyze the elemental composition. The SEM analysis revealed that the synthesized magnetic nanoparticles have particle sizes ranging from 30 to 50 nm. Furthermore, the potential of these magnetic nanoparticles as photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants such as methylene orange, in aqueous solutions was explored.