Synthesis, characterization and adsorption capability for Congo red of CoFe₂O₄ ferrite nanoparticles

Highlights: • CoFe₂O₄ ferrite nanoparticles are synthesized by an ethanol-assisted hydrothermal method. • Suitable amount of ethanol can reduce the particle size and increase BET surface area. • The introduction of ethanol leads to the cation redistribution. • Using ethanol/water mixed solution greatly enhances their adsorption capacity for CR dyes. - Abstract: CoFe₂O₄ ferrite nanoparticles are synthesized by an ethanol-assisted hydrothermal method, where the ethanol is mixed with water as the solution. In this synthesis, a rapid mixing of reducible metal cations with reducing agent and a simultaneous reduction process take place in a colloid mill. Synthesized ferrite samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Raman spectroscopy. XRD patterns reveal the formation of CoFe₂O₄ ferrites with single spinel phase. SEM and TEM images show that the as-synthesized samples are with narrow size distribution. Raman spectroscopy studies clearly indicate the cation distribution in nanosized particles. Here, it is worthy to note that, with increasing ethanol content in ethanol–water mixed solution, an obvious superparamagnetic behavior of as-synthesized nanoparticles at room temperature is observed. The adsorption capability of the as-synthesized ferrite nanoparticles for Congo Red (CR) is examined. Enhancement of adsorption capability for CR with adding ethanol as the mixing solution is shown. The adsorption mechanism is discussed. This investigation reveals that the composition of ethanol/water mixed solution has great effects on the microstructure and magnetic properties as well as adsorption capacity of Congo Red (CR) dye of the as-synthesized CoFe₂O₄ ferrite samples