Mechanism of natural diamagnetic monomineral chalcopyrite electrolytic conversion into ferromagnetic form

Dospayev М. Figurinene I. Каkenov К. Zhinova Y. Yessenbayeva G.
January 2026 Springer Science and Business Media B.V.

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry
2026 #56 Issue 1

With the development of the new science of spintronics, the electronics industry is showing increased interest in multicomponent semiconductors with a wide range of electrophysical and optical properties. Ferromagnetic material based on chalcopyrite that combines magnetic characteristics with properties determined by the valence state and structure of its components, is a promising material for producing such semiconductors. Electrochemical polarization was used to selectively convert the initially diamagnetic natural chalcopyrite into magnetic form, producing semiconductors with improved physical properties that enable improved performance in solid-state self-charging batteries, photodetectors, and solar cells. The results of the electrochemical polarization of monomineral chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) in a sodium hydroxide solution on a titanium electrode were presented. It was shown for the first time that initially diamagnetic monomineral chalcopyrite exhibited significant electrochemical activity at a certain cathodic potential forming a magnetic product. The reaction order with respect to sodium hydroxide was calculated to be 0.38. The activation energy values (11.87–13.82 kJ mol^{− 1}) were calculated from the temperature dependence, indicating that the reduction process occurs in the diffusion mode. Based on the results of current-voltage studies and microelectrolysis at controlled potentials, electrolysis was carried out under galvanostatic conditions to convert the initially diamagnetic monomineral chalcopyrite into magnetic form. The effects of current density, sodium hydroxide concentration, electrolyte temperature, electrolysis duration, and magnetic field strength on the yield of the magnetic fraction of chalcopyrite were studied. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy analysis revealed that the initial diamagnetic chalcopyrite CuFeS₂ undergoes electrochemical processing to form bornite with the compositions Cu₂FeS₂ and Cu₅FeS₄ that exhibited magnetic properties. Under optimal conditions, the yield of the magnetic fraction of the initially diamagnetic chalcopyrite was 98.90%.

Chalcocite , Diamagnetic chalcopyrite , Electrolysis , Magnetic bornite , Magnetic separation , Microelectrolysis at the controlled potential , Voltammetry

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Zh. Abishev Chemical-Metallurgical Institute, 63, Yermekov St., Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz, 9, Akademicheskaya St., Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Zh. Abishev Chemical-Metallurgical Institute
Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026