Copper ferrite/copper oxides (I, II) nanoparticles synthesized by electric explosion of wires for high performance photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. B, Solid-state materials for advanced technology Vol. 283; p. 115845
• Main Authors: Glazkova, E.A., Bakina, O.V., Rodkevich, N.G., Mosunov, A.A., Vornakova, E.A., Chzhou, V.R., Lerner, M.I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier BV 01-09-2022
• Subjects: Catalytic activity; Copper ferrite; Copper oxides; Copper wire; Iron; Light irradiation; Nanoparticles; Photocatalysis; Synthesis
• ISSN: 0921-5107; 1873-4944
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2022.115845

The CuFe2O4/CuO/Cu2O nanoparticles at the first time have been synthesized by the simultaneous electric explosion of twisted iron and copper wires in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at different copper to iron atomic ratios. The use of nanoparticles with a maximum content of CuFe2O4 as a photocatalyst can reduce the concentration of Congo Red dye in solution by 72% in 60 min at visible light irradiation. Moreover, these nanoparticles exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against MRSA ATCC 43300. The antibacterial activity of the samples is in good agreement with the data on the photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles. This shows that the main mechanism of composite nanoparticles action is based on ROS generation. This study showed that electrical explosion of the metal wires is an attractive method for the synthesis of complex oxides with high photocatalytic and antibacterial activity.