Effects of Capping Agent and Surfactant on the Morphology and Size of CoFe2O4 Nanostructures and Photocatalyst Properties

Abstract

In this work firstly CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The temperature, surfactant and capping agent effects on the size of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were investigated. 2-hydroxyacetophenone used as a good capping agent to produce cubic-like nanostructure. When SDBS used as surfactant, particles had spherical morphology. Nanoparticle was studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared. We found that the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were prepared exhibit a ferromagnetic behavior with a saturation magnetization of 20emu/g and a coercivity of 250 Oe. The photocatalytic behavior of CoFe2O4 was studied by the degradation of a methylene blue aqueous solution under ultraviolet light irradiation.