Copper local structure in spinel ferrites determined by X-ray absorption and Mössbauer spectroscopy and their catalytic performance

Abstract Magnetite and copper spinel ferrites were prepared by co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, 57 Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. XRD data showed the formation of cubic structure with particle sizes ranging from 30 to 23 nm. According to 57 Fe Mossbauer data the obtained magnetite as well as copper ferrites were partially oxidized. The occupancy of Cu 2+ changes from tetrahedral to octahedral sites with the increase of copper content, as observed by the analysis of 57 Fe hyperfine parameters and XAS data. Catalytic behavior of the obtained samples were investigated towards methylene blue dye degradation using photo-Fenton reactions.