We report facile synthesis of Cu incorporated multifunctional ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles (Zn1-xCuxFe2O4) using simple wet chemical route. The as prepared samples having various Cu cation contents (x = 0 to 0.8) were calcined at 600 degrees C for 10 h. Samples of particular composition, x = 0.4 (Zn0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4) were calcined at different temperatures (200 degrees C to 800 degrees C) to study the effect of calcination on structural and optical properties. X-ray diffraction studies reveal the presence of mixed phases, i.e. normal cubic spinel ferrite and hematite structure (alpha-Fe2O3). Calcination of Zn0.6Cu0.4Fe2O4 shows further improvement in the crystallinity without segregation of any additional impurity phase. UV-Vis absorbance studies show CuO phase at longer wavelengths for high Cu cation content, while Raman spectral analysis shows the presence of prominent peaks at 220 cm(-1), 287 cm(-1), 400 cm(-1), and relatively weak broad peak at 640 cm(-1) corresponding to normal ferrite structure and alpha-Fe2O3 structure, confirming the X-ray results. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.