Nanosized Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 ferrite promoted one-pot synthesis of tetraphenyl-1H-imidazole

Abstract

Nanosized nickel-zinc ferrite (Ni sub(0.5)Zn sub(0.5)Fe sub(2)O sub(4)) was synthesised by a combustion method using succinic acid as fuel and systematically characterised using XRD, FT-IR, Raman, XPS, SEM-EDAX, TEM, and VSM techniques. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of a single-phase crystalline cubic spinel ferrite with an average crystallite size of 26.5 nm. FT-IR and Raman analyses supported spinel structure formation, with Raman providing insights into the local cation environment. XPS confirmed Ni sup(2+), Zn sup(2+), Fe sup(3+), and lattice oxygen. SEM revealed agglomerated nanocrystalline particles, while EDAX verified near-nominal elemental composition. TEM showed nanosized particles comparable to XRD crystallite sizes, and SAED confirmed their polycrystalline spinel nature. VSM measurements demonstrated temperature-dependent ferrimagnetic behaviour. Furthermore, Ni sub(0.5)Zn sub(0.5)Fe sub(2)O sub(4) was evaluated as a heterogeneous catalyst for the ultrasonic synthesis of tetraphenyl-1H-imidazole, affording moderate yields under mild reaction conditions and highlighting its potential for catalytic applications.