Controlled synthesis of monodisperse CoFe2O4 nanoparticles by the phase transfer method and their catalytic activity on methylene blue discoloration with H2O2

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 2013-10, Vol.343, p.126-132
• Main Authors: Feng, X., Mao, G.Y., Bu, F.X., Cheng, X.L., Jiang, D.M., Jiang, J.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Catalytic activity; Catalytic applications; Chemical synthesis methods; Chemistry; Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Diffraction; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Methylene blue; Monodisperse; Nanoparticles; Phase transfer; Physics; Sodium; Spinel; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Ultraviolet
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2013.05.001

Monodisperse spinel CoFe2O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized through the solvothermal-assisted phase transfer method using aqueous soluble metal salts as starting materials and sodium oleate (SO) as the phase-transfer agent. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry and Mössbauer spectrum. The results revealed that the as-obtained nanoparticles have a cubic spinel structure and an average diameter of 2–6nm. It was found that SO played an important role during the transfer of the hydrophilic inorganic precursor from aqueous phase to the organic phase. On the basis of the experimental results, a possible mechanism for the formation of the nanoparticles was proposed. Surface functionalization of the as-prepared nanoparticles was conducted to render the hydrophobic nanoparticles water-soluble, which makes the nanoparticles suitable for catalytic applications. The nanoparticles showed catalytic activity in the oxidation of methylene blue with H2O2 as an oxidizing agent. •Size-controllable monodisperse cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were prepared.•The method developed to prepare the nanoparticles was facile and low-cost.•The nanoparticles showed high catalytic activity for oxidizing methylene blue.