Multifunctional CuFe₂O₄/rGO nanocomposites: Green synthesis, photocatalytic degradation of methyl violet, and electrochemical detection of Pb²⁺/Cd²⁺

In this study, CuFe₂O₄ (CFO) was synthesized via a green combustion method using dry pineapple fronds as a natural fuel, while the CuFe₂O₄/reduced graphene oxide (CFO/rGO) nanocomposite was prepared through a reflux technique. The synthesized materials were extensively characterized using XRD, FESEM, TEM, PL, FTIR, UV-DRS, XPS, and EDS mapping to confirm their structural, morphological, and optical properties. The CFO/rGO nanocomposite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, achieving 97.37% degradation of methyl violet (MV) dye within 90 min under visible light irradiation, following first-order kinetics. Notably, this is the first report on MV dye degradation using this specific nanocomposite. Additionally, a carbon paste electrode (CPE) was fabricated and used for electrochemical studies in 0.1 M HCl. The redox behavior of the electrode was investigated at various scan rates, and cyclic voltammetry was used to explore its sensing capabilities for heavy metal ions, specifically Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. These results underscore the potential of CFO/rGO nanocomposites for applications in environmental remediation and electrochemical sensing.