Sustainable synthesis of nickel ferrite nanostructures using O. corniculata leaf extract for dual electrochemical and photocatalytic performance

Nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NFNPs) were effectively synthesized by a solution combustion method employing O. corniculata leaf extract as a natural fuel. To characterize the synthesized NFNPs, various analytical techniques were employed. Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirms the rapid formation of pure spinel NF nanoparticles. The synthesised material was found to have good optical quality with a band gap of 1.57 eV. Furthermore, the NF nanoparticles were able to photocatalytically degrade the methylene blue dye when exposed to visible light irradiation. The synthesized NFNPs showed outstanding photocatalytic performance, achieving efficient break down of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. Notably, a high degradation efficiency of 95% was achieved with a catalyst dosage of 60 mg within the irradiation time of 120 min, highlighting their strong potential for wastewater treatment applications. Additionally, electrochemical investigations carried out using lithium nitrate as the target analyte reveal notable redox activity. The modified GCE-based sensor exhibits a sensitivity of 21.7 × 10 −3 A M −1 with a low limit of detection of 10.81 µM. Additionally, the system shows significant potential as an electrode material. Thus, the green synthesis of NF nanoparticles using O. corniculata leaf extract provides a sustainable route for developing multifunctional nanomaterials with applications in energy storage and environmental cleanup.