Preparation and catalytic performance of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (CuFe2O4/rGO) for phenol degradation

Highlights: • CuFe₂O₄/rGO composites were prepared by a facile low-temperature approach. • CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles decorated uniformly the rGO sheets. • The composites exhibited high catalytic activity for the degradation of phenol. • Complete removal of phenol was achieved within 15 min under photocatalytic conditions at room temperature. -- Abstract: A facile low-temperature approach was employed to prepare CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles over chemically reduced graphene oxide (CuFe₂O₄/rGO) by co-precipitation of rGO with copper and iron salts in one-pot. The structures, compositions, purities, and morphologies of CuFe₂O₄/rGO composites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results showed that CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles decorated uniformly the rGO sheets. The prepared CuFe₂O₄/rGO composites were applied as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts for the degradation of phenol, as a model pollutant, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The photocatalytic activity of the CuFe₂O₄/rGO composites was also investigated. Complete removal of phenol was achieved within 15 min under photocatalytic conditions at room temperature. The CuFe₂O₄/rGO nanocomposites exhibited a higher catalytic activity compared to bare CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles. The catalytic performance of CuFe₂O₄/rGO was also higher than TiO₂ catalysts.