Synthesis and Characterization of CuCr1.4Co0.6O4 Spinel Nanostructures: Impact of Cobalt Doping on Optical and Photocatalytic Properties
| Authors | Soumaia Khaldi 1, Abdelfattah Allaoui1, Louiza Zenkhri1, Safa Besra2, Ece. T. Saka3, Cagla Akkol3 |
| Affiliations |
1Laboratory for Valorization and Promotion of Saharan Resources (VPRS), Chemistry Department, Kasdi Merbah University, UKMO, 30000 Ouargla, Algeria 2Laboratory for Development of New and Renewable Energies in Arid and Saharan Zones (LENREZA), Physical Department, Kasdi Merbah University, UKMO, 30000 Ouargla, Algeria 3 Inorganic Research Laboratories, Chemistry Department, Karadeniz Technical University, KTU, 61080 Trabzon, Turkiye |
| Е-mail | khaldi.soumaia@univ-ouargla.dz |
| Issue | Volume 18, Year 2026, Number 4 |
| Dates | Received 23 November 2026; revised manuscript received 16 August 2026; published online 21 August 2026 |
| Citation | Soumaia Khaldi 1, Abdelfattah Allaoui1, J. Nano- Electron. Phys. 18 No 4, 04032 (2026) |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.21272/jnep.18(4).04032 |
| PACS Number(s) | 81.20.Ka, 81.07.Bc, 82.50.Hp |
| Keywords | Spinel nanostructures, Combustion method, Optical properties (22) , Photocatalysis (4) , 4-nitrophenol. |
| Annotation |
In this work, copper-based spinel oxides with the general formula CuCr2 – xCoxO4 (x = 0 and 0.6) were synthesized via a facile combustion method to investigate the effect of cobalt incorporation on their structural, morphological, optical, and photocatalytic properties. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–DRS). XRD confirmed the formation of well-crystallized single-phase spinel structures for both CuCr2O4 and CuCr1.4 Co0.6O4, with nanoscale crystallite sizes, indicating that cobalt substitution preserved the spinel framework. SEM images revealed agglomerated nanosized grains with nearly spherical morphology, while EDS confirmed the homogeneous distribution of Cu, Cr, O, and Co. UV–DRS analysis showed a decrease in the optical band gap from 2.81 eV (CuCr2O4) to 2.65 eV (CuCr1.4 Co0.6O4), suggesting enhanced light absorption. The photocatalytic performance of the samples was evaluated under UV irradiation toward the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The doped CuCr1.4Co0.6O4 exhibited markedly superior photocatalytic activity, achieving complete MB degradation and 72.9 % conversion of 4-NP within 15 min, outperforming the undoped CuCr2O4. This enhancement is attributed to improved charge separation efficiency, reduced band gap energy, and smaller crystallite size resulting from cobalt incorporation. |
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