Photocatalytic Activities of CdO-Fe2O3, CdO-CuFe2O4 and CdO-ZnFe2O4 Nanocomposites

Abstract

Magnetically separable CdO-Fe2O3, CdO-CuFe2O4 and CdO-ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites have been prepared by precipitation method. The X-ray diffractogram shows face centered cubic CdO, cubic CdO2, rhombohedral α-Fe2O3, orthorhombic β-Fe2O3, cubic γ-Fe2O3 and tetragonal FeOOH as the constituents of CdO-Fe2O3 composite. The components of CdO-CuFe2O4 composite are face centered cubic CdO, body centered tetragonal CuFe2O4 and cubic γ-Fe2O3. Face centered cubic CdO and ZnFe2O4, cubic γ-Fe2O3 and rhombohedral α-Fe2O3 are the constituents of CdO-ZnFe2O4 composite. The energy dispersive X-ray spectra confirm the presence of the corresponding elements and provide the composition. The scanning electron micrographs show that the composite particles are of spherical shape and of nanodimension. The composites absorb visible light. The charge transfer resistances of the composites are larger than their constituents. CdO-Fe2O3 and CdO-CuFe2O4 composites display ferromagnetic behavior. The visible light-photocatalytic activities and bactericidal activities of the composites are larger than their precursors.