Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Copper Chromite Nanopowders

CuCr2O4 is a tetragonally distorted normal spinel, obtained by compressing the cube along one of its axes, and also slightly rotated about the axes [1]. Spinel-type mixed oxides are of great practical interest due to their use in different fields of applications such as materials science and technology, environment protection, catalysis. In particular, CuCr204 is well known for its use in the catalysis of some hydrogenation, oxidation, etc., and as ceramic pigment for the fabrication of paints and ceramic materials [2]. In the synthetic process of CuCr204 nanoparticles, Cu(NO3)2.3H0 and Cr(NO3)3.9H2O were dissolved in distilled water and the pH was raised above 10 by addition of NaOH. The solution was then heated at 110 °C for 3h in the oil bath. The obtained product was calcined at 600 °C and 700 °C for 4 hours. CuCr204 spinel phase was obtained by the above-mentioned procedure and was characterized by XRD and FTIR spectrometry. Nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR and XRD spectrometry. The FTIR spectra of the samples annealed at 600 °C confirmed to the formation of Cu2Cr204. The XRD patterns confirm the oxide phases presence according to the annealing temperatures. The photocatalytic properties of Cu2Cr2O4 nanoparticles were Eosin Y (EY) under vis irradiation as a function of time. The Cu,Cr204 nanoparticles showed that the degradation of EY gradually increases with irradiation time. Cu2Cr2O4 nanoparticles degraded about 30% of dye within 100min under the vis irradiation.

Keywords:

CuCr , 04 Eosin Y , Coprecipitation