Gallic Acid Assisted Synthesis of Novel CuO/Ni/Fe3O4 Nanocomposite for Catalytic CO2 Methanation and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation
Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology 2025
Chaima Salmi, Zane Zelča, Laouini Salah Eddine, Meneceur Souhaila, Mohammed Hamdi Ali, Abdullah Johar Amin Ahmed, Mahmood M. S. Abdullah

This study investigates the synthesis of CuO/Ni/Fe3O4 nanocomposite (NC) using gallic acid, as well as its catalytic performance in CO2 methanation and photocatalytic hydrogen generation. UV-visible spectroscopy analysis revealed a prominent absorption peak at 370 nm and a band gap energy of 1.26 eV, indicating favorable optical properties for photocatalysis. FTIR analysis identified key functional groups, including a significant O-H peak at 3366 cm−1, C-H stretching at 2926 cm−1, and metal-oxygen bonding vibrations at 580 and 461 cm−1, confirming the presence of Cu-O, Fe-O, and Ni-O bonds, indicative of successful nanoparticle formation. XRD analysis showed distinct peaks at 2θ values corresponding to cubic and monoclinic crystal structures, with calculated crystallite sizes of approximately 30 nm and a surface area of 29 m2/g. The nanocomposite exhibited 37% crystallinity and a density of 6.88 g/cm3. Thermal stability tests revealed only a 5.7% weight loss between 589 and 785 °C. Catalytic tests showed a maximum CO2 conversion rate of 94.8% at 420 °C, with CH4 selectivity exceeding 90% across all temperatures. In photocatalytic hydrogen production, the NC achieved an initial rate of 165 µmol/g.h, reaching a total yield of 741 µmol/g after 5 h. The catalyst maintained efficiency over four cycles, highlighting its stability and reusability. These findings emphasize the potential of CuO/Ni/Fe3O4 NC as a promising catalyst for sustainable energy production and carbon utilization, combining a green synthesis method with high catalytic efficiency.


Keywords
CO2 methanation; CuO/Ni/Fe3O4 nanocomposite; Gallic Acid; Photocatalytic H2 generation
DOI
10.1007/s10971-024-06608-1
Hyperlink
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10971-024-06608-1

Salmi, C., Zelča, Z., Salah Eddine, L., Souhaila, M., Hamdi Ali, M., Johar Amin Ahmed, A., Abdullah, M. Gallic Acid Assisted Synthesis of Novel CuO/Ni/Fe3O4 Nanocomposite for Catalytic CO2 Methanation and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, 2025, Vol. 113, No. 3, pp.670-682. ISSN 0928-0707. e-ISSN 1573-4846. Available from: doi:10.1007/s10971-024-06608-1

Publication language
English (en)
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