Study on multifunctional magnesium copper zinc spinel ferrite nanoparticles prepared by hydrothermal route; Physical, electrical, and anti-microbial investigation

Abstract

Polycrystalline spinel ferrite nanoparticles of Mg0.70-XCuXZn0.30Fe2O4(X=0.0,0.15,0.30,0.45,0.60) were prepared by hydrothermal approach. The structural modification by X-ray diffraction of Mg-Zn spinel ferrite with Cu2+ substitution was recorded through crystallite size (11–14 nm), Lattice dimension (8.34–8.38 A°), strain (7×10−3-9×10−3) and dislocation density (4×1015-7×1015) respectively. The formation of spinel structure (Fe-O) was identified by FTIR with a vibration band around 400–600 cm−1. Also, the Rietveld refined XRD pattern confirmed the presence of a cubical spinel structure. The electron microscopic (SEM) analysis revealed sphere-cubical agglomerates of the prepared material. TEM analysis revealed that the particles were inside the nanoscale range, with an average particle size of 15.97 nm determined using a lognormal histogram. The existence of the expected elements is confirmed by EDS spectra. From BET data, surface parameters including surface area (39.938–92.643 m2/gm), volume (2.355 × 10−1 to 2.52 × 10−1 gm/cm3), pore radius (5.0831–12.650 nm), and pore size distribution were determined. The magnetic parameters Ms (20–34 emu/g), Hc (30–39 Oe), and Mr (1.3–2.8 emu/g) obtained by VSM measurements indicate the single domain, pseudo single domain and multi-domain nature of as prepared nanoparticles and lower dielectric parameters at high frequency obtain from dielectric spectroscopy indicate the suitability of the material for switching devices, power application energy storage, and high-frequency applications. The antibacterial efficacy of the synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) was evaluated against different harmful bacteria and demonstrated the desired zone of inhibition (ZOI).