Honey-assisted synthesis of CuFe 2 O 4 nano pebbles: a sustainable approach to photocatalytic and antibacterial activity

Copper ferrite nanoparticles (CuFe₂O₄), with their unique spinel structure and tunable morphology, exhibit remarkable magnetic, electrical, and catalytic properties, making them promising materials for various applications, including sensors, energy storage, and environmental remediation. In this study, CuFe2O4 nanostructures were synthesized using auto-combustion method with honey as a green fuel and calcined at 400 and 800 °C. The structural, morphological, photocatalytic, and antibacterial properties of the green-synthesized nanoparticles were investigated using various characterization techniques. XRD patterns and FT-IR spectra confirmed the tetrahedral structure and identified characteristic functional groups of ferrite nanoparticles. SEM analysis revealed that average crystallite sizes of the samples calcined at 400 and 800 °C were approximately 15 and 115 nm, respectively. Tauc plot analysis of UV–visible absorbance spectra revealed a decrease in band gap from 1.96 to 1.86 eV as the calcination temperature increased. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated for the degradation of Crystal violet and Alizarin Red S dyes, with a maximum degradation efficiency of 86.3% for Crystal violet within 120 minutes. The addition of enhancers significantly increased the degradation efficiencies, yielding 91.58% with H2O2 and 93.88% with ethanol. Furthermore, antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, demonstrating effective inhibition of Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus.