Photocatalytic Activity of Magnetically Responsive Green Synthesised Co₃O₄ Nanoparticles

Abstract:

Utilising an uncomplicated, environmentally friendly strategy to synthesise nanoparticles presents a prospective substitute for dangerous chemical and expensive physical techniques. Therefore, this study was initiated with the objectives of synthesising Co₃O₄ nanoparticles using a facile green route and evaluating their magnetic properties and photocatalytic activities. Spherical Co₃O₄ nanoparticles with dimensions ranging from 8 to 32 nm were successfully produced using garlic extract. Magnetic analysis revealed weak ferromagnetism at low temperatures, with a coercive field of 14×10^-4 T. This low-temperature weak ferromagnetism may be attributed to uncompensated surface spins that form a short-range ordered cluster of spins. However, inside the sample, an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction occurs between non-magnetic tetrahedral Co²⁺ ions and magnetic octahedral Co³⁺ ions. Consequently, an exchange bias field of approximately 8.76 ×10^-4 T was observed. Above the Néel temperature, the thermal energy overcomes the antiferromagnetic ordering, resulting in paramagnetic behaviour at room temperature. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the green synthesised Co₃O₄ nanoparticles demonstrated 55% degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye within 90 minutes. However, more efficient degradation (63% degradation within 90 minutes) of MO was achieved in the presence of a small amount of NaBH₄, which typically functions as a source of electrons to enhance the degradation rate. The photocatalytic (dye degradation) activity of these green synthesised room temperature paramagnetic Co₃O₄ nanoparticles could be applicable for water purification processes.

• Periodical: Journal of Metastable and Nanocrystalline Materials (Volume 41)
• Pages: 17-28
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-gDIz4z
• Online since: April 2025
• Authors: Biplab Kumar Mandal, Subhajit Roy Chowdhury, Bhaskar Das, Pratap Singh Chauhan, Bhagaban Kisan, Rahul Das*
• Keywords: Green Synthesis, Magnetic Properties, Nanoparticles, Photocatalytic Activity, Tricobalt Tetroxide

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