Structural; magnetic and catalytic properties of nanocrystalline Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 synthesized by microwave combustion and ball milling methods

•Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 has been synthesize successfully by microwave-induced combustion process.•The as-received powders were milled for different periods of time.•A change of the saturation magnetization and coercivity was observed with milling.•The catalytic activity performance revealed that the sample is active towards acetone formation.

Effects of high energy ball-milling on nanosized Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 powders were studied at 30 and 330 min of milling. The powders were initially synthesized from its stoichiometric metal nitrates and urea mixtures, using a microwave assisted combustion method. Ball-milling induced electromechanical reaction was examined by XRD, TEM, Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetization, and catalytic performance by exploring potential changes in size, phases and chemical structure. Before Milling, the as-prepared powders were comprised of small grains of poor spinel crystallinity and very small crystallite size, and a minor α-Fe2O3 phase. Progressive milling significantly reduced the grain size, increased chemical disorder, and reduced the hematite phase. These changes are also manifested in the magnetization measurements. The Catalytic activity performance was carried out using dehydrogenation of isopropyl alcohol. The observed activity was correlated to the presence of Cu2+ and Fe3+ catalysts at octahedral sites before and after milling.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide