Synthesis, characterization and optical properties of gadolinium doped copper ferrite nanoparticles prepared by novel sol-gel method

Gadolinium doped copper ferrite nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by via a novel sol-gel method with the aid of copper (II) nitrate, iron (III) nitrate, gadolinium (III) nitrate and starch without adding external surfactant. Moreover, starch plays role as capping agent, reducing agent, and natural template in the synthesis CuFe2-xGdxO4 nanoparticles. The as-synthesized CuFe2-xGdxO4 nanoparticles were characterized by means of several techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The magnetic properties of as-prepared CuFe2-xGdxO4 nanoparticles were also investigated with vibrating sample magnetometer. To evaluate the photocatalyst properties of nanocrystalline CuFe2-xGdxO4, the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under ultraviolet light irradiation was carried out.