Green Synthesis of CuFe2O4 Nanoparticles Using Natural Extracts: Structural, Optical, and Magnetic Studies

There has been growing interest in green synthetic methods for nanoscale materials based on natural extracts, as they have potential applications in various technologies and have benign effects on the environment. Here, copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized via a green combustion method using natural extract surfactants Cinnamon zeylanicum bark powder (CBP) and Aloe vera leaf extract (AVE) as fuel agents. For comparison purposes, CuFe2O4 NPs are also synthesized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) surfactant, while also investigating the structural, morphological, optical, and magnetic properties of the resulting NPs by different techniques. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate the formation of cubic and tetragonal crystal structures using AVE and PVP surfactants, respectively. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy images reveal significant reductions in the average size of the green-synthesized NPs compared to those prepared in the presence of PVP surfactant. However, the bandgap values of the NPs are similar to each other. Hysteresis loop measurements show enhanced saturation magnetization (M-s = 39.63 emu/g) and decreased coercivity (H-c = 57 Oe) of CuFe2O4 NPs using Aloe vera surfactant compared to M-s = 22.43 emu/g and H-c = 1260 Oe obtained using PVP surfactant. In this regard, first-order reversal curve (FORC) analysis manifests predominant superparamagnetic contribution of the NPs synthesized in the presence of AVE.