The first synthesis of CdFe12O19 nanostructures and nanocomposites and considering of magnetic, optical, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties.

CdFe12O19 nanostructures and nanocomposites were synthesized via sol-gel auto-combustion method. The CdFe12O19/CdTiO3 nanocomposites were prepared at 850 °C after 1 h calcination, when molar ratio of Cd:Ti is 1:1. Effects of the molar ratio of Cd:Ti, type of precursor and calcination temperature were investigated. Both nanostructures and nanocomposites were ferromagnetic at room temperature, with saturation magnetizations (Ms) 2.561 and 11.269 emu g-1, and coercivities (Hc) 696.517 and 969.068 Oe, respectively. SEM, TEM, FTIR, EDS and XRD showed morphology, composition and particle size of the products. VSM, UV-vis and CV were used to investigate the magnetic, optical and electrochemical properties. The band gap values of the nanocomposites were larger than that in the nanostructures. Also photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. This is the first attempt on the study of photocatalytic performance of the cadmium hexaferrite nanostructures and nanocomposites. The effects of various factors including composition and particle size of the nanocomposites, the Ti:Cd molar ratio and also kind of organic dye on the photocatalytic behavior of the products were evaluated. The photocatalytic activity achieved a maximum when ratio of Ti:Cd was 1:1. Methyl orange, methylene blue and methylene violet decompositions were about 71.35, 55.08 and 62.27% by nanocomposites, respectively.