Rational
design and fabrication of high quality complex multicomponent
spinel ferrite with specific microstructures and solar light harvestings
toward CO2 reduction and antibiotic degradation to future
energetic and catalytic applications are highly desirable. In this
study, novel copper–zinc–iron multinary spinel hierarchical
nano-microspheres (MSHMs) with different internal structures (solid
nano-microspheres, yolk–shell hollow nano-microspheres, and
double-shelled hollow nano-microspheres) have been successfully developed
by a facile self-templated solvothermal strategy. The morphology and
structure, optical, as well as photoinduced redox reactions including
interfacial charge carrier behaviors and the intrinsic relationship
of structure–property between intrinsic nano-microstructures
and physicochemical performance of copper–zinc–iron
ferrite MSHMs composites were systematically investigated with the
assistance of various on- and/or off- line physical–chemical
means and deeply elucidated in terms of the research outcomes. It
is demonstrated that the modification of the interior microstructures
can be applied to tune the catalytic properties of multinary spinel
by tailoring the temperature programming to fine control the two opposite
forces of contraction (Fc) and adhesion (Fa). Among various internal
microstructures, the obtained double-shelled copper–zinc–iron
MSHMs exhibited the superior catalytic performance toward 8.8 and
38 μmol for H2 and CO productions as well as 80.4%
removal of sulfamethoxazole antibiotics. As evidenced from primary
characterizations, for example, combined steady-state PL, ns-TAS,
and Mössbauer and sequential investigations, the remarkable
improvements in the catalytic activity can be primarily attributed
to several crucial factors, for example, the more effective e–-h+ spatial separations and interfacial
transfers, multiple internal light scattering, higher photonic energy
harvesting and effective reactive oxygen species generation with long
radical lifetimes. The current research provides new insights into
the molecular design of novel copper–zinc–iron multinary
spinels and the intrinsic relationship of structure–property
between interior structures (e.g., different crystal texture, morphologies
structures) and the physicochemical performance of the aforementioned
multinary spinels.