Electrochemical and optical properties of magnetic CuFe2O4 nanofibers grown by PVP and PVA-assisted sol–gel electrospinning

1D CuFe2O4 (CFO) nanostructures were synthesized by sol–gel electrospinning technique, followed by calcination at 600 and 800 °C. The influence of morphology directing templates such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on the structural, optical, magnetic and electrochemical properties was investigated. XRD pattern of the samples confirmed formation of tetragonal CuFe2O4 with extra phases of CuO and Fe2O3. The spinel phase of PVP/CFO was boosted by increasing calcination temperature, contrary to the behavior of PVA/CFO sample which is associated with an increase in impurity phase. The FESEM images revealed that PVP/CFO fibers have a lower average diameter compared to PVA/CFO. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicated that PVA/CFO-800 °C sample has the lowest band gap value. VSM analyses declared that PVP/CFO-800 °C nanofibers have superior saturation magnetization and anisotropy constant. The CV, EIS and GCD measurements of coated nanofibers on Ni foam revealed that PVA/CFO-600 °C has the highest specific capacitance (Cs = 435.5 F g−1 at current density of 1 A g−1) and minimum value of charge transfer resistance (Rct = 13.43 Ω) belongs to the PVP/CFO-800 °C.