Characterization of microstructural and optical CoFe2O4/SiO2 ferrite nanocomposite for photodegradation of methylene blue

In this research, the CoFe2O4 and CoFe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites have been synthesized using the co-precipitation method, and the microstructural properties of the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction methods (XRD). The photodegradation activity of methylene blue for both nanocomposites were also investigated. The XRD pattern of CoFe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites revealed that the sample was polycrystalline and had a spinel crystal structure with group space of Fd3m. The size of crystallite nanoparticle is 29.4 +/- 0.2 nm for CoFe2O4/SiO2 and 26.8 +/- 0.2 nm for CoFe2O4. The CoFe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites have smaller optical band gap compared to bare CoFe2O4 due to smaller surface defect and larger particles size. The CoFe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites showed a more energetic photodegradation activity of methylene blue than CoFe2O4. The encapsulation of the SiO2 matrix on the surface CoFe2O4 nanoparticles enhances the photodegradation activity. Based on the result, nanocomposites CoFe2O4/SiO2 and CoFe2O4 are prospective as nano-photocatalyst and nano-adsorbent for organic pollutants.