Synthesis and characterization of NiFe2O4/CuO nanocomposites: Structural and magnetic properties analysis

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) were synthesized through the precipitation method, while nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe2O4NPs) were prepared using the co-precipitation method involving mixtures of NiCl2 and FeCl3. Additionally, nanocomposites of (NiFe2O4/CuO) with crystalline phases were obtained using the ceramic method. Various characterization techniques including XRD, EDS, SEM, FE-SEM, and VSM were employed to analyze and examine the properties of the powders. XRD was utilized to assess the purity of the phases, investigate the structural formation, and determine the sizes of the crystallites for all the particles. The XRD analysis provided insights into the crystal structures of the materials under investigation. It revealed that CuO exhibited a monoclinic structure, while nickel ferrite and the nanocomposites displayed a cubic spinel structure. A (NiFe2O4/CuO) nanocomposite was created using ceramic techniques and sintered at 600 °C. FE-SEM analysis showed round particles and clear grain boundaries. The preparation process involved various factors influencing particle growth rate and final microstructure. EDS pattern confirmed absence of impurities; surface layers displayed significant Ni, Fe, Cu, and O components. Magnetic measurements using VSM confirmed the ferromagnetic nature of both NiFe2O4 and NiFe2O4/CuO. The study further investigated the impact of CuO nanoparticles and their concentration on the structure and magnetic properties of the resulting nanocomposites.