Synthesis of CuO/α-Fe₂O₃ Nanocomposite by Q-Switched Pulsed Laser Ablation and its Catalytic Activity for Environmental Applications

CuO/α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites (with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20% CuO compositions) were synthesized using a fast and clean technique called pulsed laser ablation. The products were characterized using FTIR, SEM–EDS, HR-SEM, XRPD, DR-UV-Vis, and Raman spectroscopy. The nanocomposites were evaluated as catalysts for NaBH₄ reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The catalytic efficiency was found to increase greatly with the increase in the amount of CuO in the nanocomposites. The 20% CuO/α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposite shows the highest reduction efficiency of 4-NP, which completes in 6 min. The rate constants for the reduction of 4-NP using 5%, 10%, and 20% CuO/α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites were estimated to be 0.00756 mM∙min⁻¹, 0.01375 mM∙min⁻¹, and 0.01439 mM∙min⁻¹, respectively.