Effects of ZnO nanoparticles concentration on the morphology and textural properties of ZnO/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite

The aim of this study is to synthesize and characterize ZnO and NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles via green route and co-precipitation of ZnO/NiFe₂O₄. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data show no extra diffraction peaks belonging to other phases except wurtzite. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images showed that the average interplanar distance of wurtzite phase at 3, 5, and 7 % dopant concentration were about 0.28, 0.44 and 0.33 nm respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show difference in binding energies of the elements present in different concentration of the dopants. Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) spectra show similarities in the shape of Zn, Fe and Ni from zero loss, low loss and core loss region with a little shift in energy. All the elements exhibit multiple oxidation state; +2 and +3 for Fe and +1 and +2 for Zn and Ni. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) plot shows that ZnO belongs to the type II isotherm curve while NiFe₂O₄ and 3, 5 and 7 % ZnO/NiFe₂O₄ all belong to type IV isotherm curve indicating ZnO as macroporous while NiFe₂O₄ and different dopant concentration of ZnO/NiFe₂O₄ are mesoporous. The study shows the complete synthesis of ternary ZnO/NiFe₂O₄ nanocomposites using green synthesis and sol-gel approach.•Green synthesis of ZnO and NiFe₂O₄ using leaf extract of <i>Anacardium occidentale</i>•Co-precipitation method at different concentration of ZnO and NiFe₂O₄ for the synthesis of ZnO/NiFe₂O₄.•Nanocomposites was characterized using different analytical tools.