Pure Spinel Phase Research Articles

Unveiling the impact of Ni doping on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline FeCo2O4spinel oxide: A combined experimental andab initioinvestigations.

In the present work, nanocrystalline samples of compositions 〖Ni〗_x 〖Fe〗_(1-x) 〖Co〗_2 O_4 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75) have been synthesized via co-precipitation method by annealing at 900 oC. The nanocrystalline samples of compositions Ni0.25Fe0.75Co2O4 (D0.25) and Ni0.5Fe0.5Co2O4 (D0.5) crystallize in a pure spinel phase, whereas Ni0.75Fe0.25Co2O4 (D0.75) show the existence of secondary phase of NiO, as confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis. The particle size and lattice strain in the samples both decrease as Ni substitution is increased. The field-dependent dc magnetization M(H) virgin curve measured at 5 K for sample D0.75 shows the existence of field-induced metamagnetic transition, while this behavior is absent in samples D0.5 and D0.25. Dynamic magnetic properties have been investigated by ac susceptibility measurement, which shows a strong frequency dependence behavior resulting from the blocking/spin-glass freezing states depending upon the amount of Ni substitution and the range of measurement temperature. High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HR-XPS) analysis reveals the presence of mixed valence states of Fe2+/Fe3+, Co2+/Co+3, and Ni2+/Ni+3 in all samples. Using first principles-based Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations with HSE06 exchange-correlation functional predicts the correct description of ground state which is ferrimagnetic and insulating in their inverse spinel case for D0.25, D0.5, and D0.75 samples that agreed well with our experimental observations. A closer look at the electronic structure near the Fermi level (EF) of Ni-doped samples suggests a typical Mott-Hubbard insulating state while it is found to be a mixture of charge-transfer and Mott-Hubbard insulating state for parent compound FeCo2O4. The obtained spin-dependent gap hierarchy can have possible application in spintronics. We have studied a detailed correlation between experiment and theory.

Ultrasonic chemical synthesis of zinc-manganese ferrites with improved magnetic properties

Zinc-Manganese spinel ferrites (Zn1-xMnxFe2O4) are nowadays very attractive magnetic materials for cancer diagnostic and therapy. With the help of intense ultrasonic waves, sonochemical synthesis method was used to prepare stoichiometric and chemically homogenous nanoparticles by varying the manganese content. The crystal structure along with the size and shape of the as-prepared nanoparticles were described using XRD, TEM and FT-IR techniques, while cations distribution was carefully investigated using XPS and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques and supported with density functional theory calculations. The crystal structure study revealed the presence of a pure single cubic spinel phase, where the unit-cell and the size were observed to decrease as the manganese incorporation was increased with clear indication of cationic redistribution and degree of inversion variations. Due to the very small variation of the total energy between different configurations, the probability of formation of a mixed phase was found to be very high in such a way that the more mixed was the phase, the more stable it was. A relevant fact was the noticed quasi-systematic ionic exchange made possible by the very short reaction times and high energy offered by the ultrasonic waves. For manganese concentrations up to 60%, the systematic ionic process started by incorporating manganese ions into octahedral sites and pushing iron ions to migrate and replace those of zinc in tetrahedral sites. Such an ionic movement was of central importance for the improvement of the magnetic properties due to the establishment of super-exchange interactions. Such an ionic engineering should definitely open the way to promising applications in biomedical imaging.

Structural, magnetic and microwave absorption performances of MnxZn(1-x)Fe2O4 nanopowders via high-temperature mechanochemical method

As a typical microwave absorption material (MAM), ferrite is frequently employed within the domain of electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA). In this work, through adopting a novel and promising high-temperature mechanochemical (HTMC) method, pure-phase spinel MnxZn(1-x)Fe2O4 nanopowders (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1) with a spherical structure were fabricated. The powders' chemical compositions and structures, microscopic morphology, and static magnetic characteristics (Ms, Mr, and Hc) were examined, along with their electromagnetic parameters and EMWA capabilities in 2–18 GHz. The outcomes demonstrate that the static magnetic characteristics and dynamic electromagnetic performances of the MnxZn(1-x)Fe2O4 nanopowders can be significantly affected by the manganese content. The static magnetic characteristics and EMWA performances of the as-prepared powders can all be enhanced with a promotion in manganese content, which may be related to the Zn2+ substitution. Among these, at a matching thickness of 4.4 mm, the MnFe2O4 powder obtains a minimum reflection loss of −54.7 dB (equivalent to 99.9997 % of the EMWA), at which point the effective absorption bandwidth approaches 3.9 GHz. The superior EMWA performance of as-prepared MnxZn(1-x)Fe2O4 nanopowders is attributable to the favorable cooperative impact between dielectric and magnetic losses, as well as the multiple reflection and scattering of electromagnetic waves between the MnxZn(1-x)Fe2O4 particles, which lengthens the dissemination path of electromagnetic waves and strengthens the loss effect. Therefore, the as-prepared MnxZn(1-x)Fe2O4 nanopowder can be utilized in the field of high-efficiency EMWA, and the HTMC method has considerable potential for the large-scale preparation of high-performance MAMs.

The Effect of the Calcination Time on the Microstructure and Properties of MnZn Ferrite Powders

MnZn ferrite powders were prepared based on the novel nano in situ composite method and through chemical sol-spray drying–calcination technology. The precursor powders were calcined at 1060 °C at different calcination times (1–9 h) to research the influences of the calcination time on MnZn ferrite powders. The research results revealed that all samples had similar morphologies composed of fine particles. The pure MnZn ferrite spinel phase can only be obtained when the calcination time does not exceed 3 h. Otherwise, some α-Fe2O3 or γ-Fe2O3 impurities will appear. The particle size descended with an increasing calcination time and then ascended. After 3 h of preservation, the smallest particle size was obtained, and it exhibited a unimodal distribution. The saturation magnetization (Ms) increased at first and decreased later with an increasing calcination time, and the optimal value (53.4 emu/g) was reached after holding for 3 h. In view of this work, the optimal calcination time is 3 h.

Structural, dielectric and Magnetic properties of Samarium doped (Ni–Zn) based Spinel Ferrite (Ni0.5Zn0.5SmxFe2-xO4) nanomaterials

Samarium doped Ni-Zn ferrites (Ni0.5Zn0.5SmxFe2-xO4) were synthesized using sol-gel auto-combustion technique with Sm3+ doping concentrations varying as x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20. The prepared nanomaterials were examined using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The XRD examination verified the pure FCC spinel phase of all samples with no impurity peak. The FTIR analysis for spinel molecules formation identified two frequency bands at the octa and tetrahedral sites. The TEM analysis confirmed the shape, size and distribution of prepared nanoparticles. The different dielectric properties were analyzed with a frequency range of 1 MHz–3 GHz and the impact of doping was also studied simultaneously. Magnetic nature of prepared materials was investigated at room using the VSM. It is found that the prepared nanomaterials are suitable for high energy storage as well as magnetic applications.

Rare-earth (Eu3+) substitution impact on the structural, morphological, magneto-dielectric, and electrochemical properties of Cd0.45Co0.55Fe2−y Eu y O4 spinel nanoferrites

A series of Cd0.45Co0.55Fe2−yEuyO4 (y = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) spinel nanoferrites (SNFs) were synthesized using a self-igniting process and employed as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. The results demonstrated the formation of a single SNFs phase, as shown by the XRD data. The crystallite size lies between the range of 29.30–51.12 nm. The porosity percentage is within the range of 31.37%–32.99%. Rietveld refinement of XRD and Raman analysis revealed the pure spinel phase and no secondary phase was observed. The saturation magnetization and magnetic anisotropy were also decreased with the addition of Eu3+ in Cd–Co SNFs. The high coercive field was enhanced for Eu3+ doping as compared to pure Cd–Co SNFs. The dielectric constant was improved with the substitution of Eu3+ in Cd–Co SNFs. The dielectric tangent loss was reduced with the doping of Eu3+. The electrochemical performance of the Eu3+ doped Cd–Co SNFs achieved an impressive maximum specific capacitance at a lower scan rate. Based on these findings, the outstanding electrochemical performance of the Eu3+ doped Cd–Co SNFs suggests their potential as promising materials for high-frequency, magnetic ferrofluid, and supercapacitor electrodes.

Investigation of structural, elastic, thermal, magnetic, optical, and photocatalytic properties of nanosized Mg-Mn-Li ferrites

Nanoferrites of (Mn1-xMgx)0.8Li0.1Fe2.1O4 (x: 0–1.0, step 0.2) were synthesized by the sol–gel autocombustion method. The structural properties of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction patterns for the samples establish the nanoscale (38–54 nm) pure-phase spinel cubic structure (Fd-3̅\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\bar{3}$$\\end{document}m). Also, the particle size analysis results demonstrate the narrow distribution of their particle sizes, which range from 10 to 33 nm. The impact of Mg2+ ion concentration on the thermal, elastic, magnetic, and optical properties of these samples was studied. The saturation magnetization decreases from 56.9 to 31.1 emu/g, and the coercivity increases from 65.8 to 106.8G with the addition of Mg2+ ions, showing thin S-shaped hysteresis loops revealing the samples’ soft magnetic behavior. Thermal results indicate that these samples are interesting candidates for thermoelectric applications due to their noticeably lower thermal conductivity, which ranges from 0.3572 to 0.5881 W/mK. The optical band gap values determined by using ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy range from 5.11 to 5.25 eV, where quantum confinement for crystallite size triggers a larger band gap. As the concentration of Mg2+ ions increases, their ability to degrade methyl green dye under ultraviolet radiation for 100 min rises from 13.6 to 61.1% with the addition of H2O2, an indication of their photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the optimum ferrite sample, Mn0.4Mg0.4Li0.1Fe2.1O4, maintained its photocatalytic efficiency for at least six reaction cycles.Graphical The composition dependence of (a) the mexp and mth and (b) the ao and ath for the (Mn1−x Mgx)0.8Li0.1Fe2.1O4 nanosamples.

Exploring the effect of Hf (IV) doping in spinel ferrite CoHfxFe2-xO4 on magnetic properties, electrochemical impedance, and photocatalytic activity: In-depth structural study

In this study, CoHfxFe(2−x)O4 nanoparticles (x = 0.0, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.12) were synthesized using the co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed a pure spinel phase for the x = 0.04 sample, validated by Rietveld refinement, with crystallite sizes between 39 and 59 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the formation of the spinel structure and the proper valence states of the elements. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified the morphology and homogeneity of the samples. Magnetic property analysis revealed reduced saturation magnetization with increased Hf content. Impedance spectroscopy showed enhanced electrical resistivity with Hf incorporation. Photocatalytic tests demonstrated that doping improves the degradation efficiency of Orange G dye under UV-Vis irradiation, achieving yields between 9 % and 35 % after 60 min.

Frequency-influenced dielectric analysis of sol-gel assisted Mg2+ substituted ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles

This study deals with the effect of Mg2+ doping on the structural, optical, and dielectric properties of zinc manganite nanoparticles. A series of MgxZn1-xMn2O4 (x = 0–0.5) samples were prepared with an auto-combustion synthesis method. Rietveld refinement of XRD revealed a pure tetragonal inverse spinel phase, supported by FTIR spectral analysis. Morphological studies indicated the transformation of micro-spherical to rod-like shapes for doped samples. With increased dopant concentration, the three Raman active modes shift towards higher frequencies. The co-existence of Mn2+, Mn3+, and Mn4+ states was revealed by chemical state analysis. The MZMO-5 sample exhibited the smallest energy bandgap (∼1.64 eV). The refractive indices of these samples were estimated to be ∼ 0.4 which might be useful for switching and filter circuits. These nano-manganite samples exhibited high dielectric constants and low losses, indicating their potential use in communication devices.

Electrochemical charge storage performance of (Mn, Ni, Mo, Co, Fe)3O4 high entropy oxide nanoparticles produced via thermal plasma route

Highly complex high entropy metal oxides (HEOs) have several unique characteristics, such as more active sites and material stability that improve the electrochemical charge storage capacity. In this study, HEOs (Mn, Ni, Mo, Co, Fe)3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using a thermal plasma route and its electrochemical energy storage performance was studied with two distinct electrolytes such as 1 M KOH and NaOH. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the phase pure spinel structured HEOs with crystalline size ranging from 13 to 29 nm. Scanning electron microscopy and electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results revealed the quasi-spherical morphology and uniform distribution of constitutional cations in the as-synthesized HEOs. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results identified the oxidation states of cations in spinel HEOs. The charge/discharge studies of as-synthesized HEOs showed a specific capacitance of 215 F g-1 /26.9 mAh g-1 at a current density of 2 A g-1 in 1 M KOH electrolyte which is 156 % greater than 1 M NaOH electrolyte. Furthermore, a high capacitance retention of 91 % was achieved after completing 3000 cycles at 10 A g-1 current density which indicates that the HEOs have excellent charge/discharge reversibility. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the solution and charge transfer resistances of HEOs electrodes were 1.04 and 3.2 Ω, respectively. This novel synthesis strategy attempts to overcome the difficulties experienced by established methods for bulk manufacture of phase pure HEOs since thermal plasma method is a rapid and a single-step approach for the bulk production of nanomaterial.

Synthesis of the oleylamine coated mesoporous Fe3O4 nanospheres and their application towards the efficient chemical fixation of carbon dioxide

The present work reports the successful coating of Fe3O4 nanospheres with oleylamine utilizing a single-step solvothermal technique and its application to carbon dioxide's capture and chemical fixation. The existence of the pure cubic spinel phase of Fe3O4 was established by X-ray diffraction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed vibrations corresponding to the oleylamine structure, affirming the coating of oleylamine on Fe3O4 nanospheres. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further confirmed the presence of oleylamine on the Fe3O4 surface, along with the constituent elements Fe and O. The nanospheres exhibited a spherical shape with an average diameter of ∼17 nm, shown by morphological investigations. Magnetic properties exhibited a Verwey transition at ∼114 K and a saturation magnetization of ∼60 emu/g. The surface area measurements revealed a pore volume of 0.0717 ccg−1 and surface area of 30.558 m2g-1. The existence of oleylamine on the surface of Fe3O4 nanospheres facilitated the capture of CO2 through chemisorption due to the amine group's high selectivity and the nanospheres' large surface area. In the presence of styrene oxide and tetra-n-hexyl ammonium bromide (THAB), the oleylamine-coated Fe3O4 nanospheres successfully converted CO2 to styrene carbonate. The magnetic core and high thermal stability of the material make it suitable for recyclability for the fixation of CO2 into products with added value. This work presents a promising approach for CO2 capture and utilization using Fe3O4 nanospheres coated with oleylamine, with potential applications in carbon capture and utilization technologies.

Facile one-step preparation of Co2CrO4 spinel from heterometallic compounds – Structural, magnetic, electrical and photocatalytic studies

Two isostructural heterometallic complex salts with mononuclear units, [NH(CH3)2(C2H5)][Cr(terpy)2][CoCl4]2 (1) and [NH(CH3)(C2H5)2][Cr(terpy)2][CoCl4]2 (2), were synthesized using a building block approach and characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), impedance spectroscopy and magnetization measurements. They exhibit particular humidity-sensing properties and very high proton conductivity at room temperature. The magnetization of complexes shows the high spin state of 3/2 for tetrahedrally coordinated CoII ions, which on cooling remain in the paramagnetic state within the CrIII network, which is antiferromagnetically correlated. The prepared compounds were thoroughly explored as single-source precursors for the formation of the spinel oxide Co2CrO4 by their thermal decomposition. By optimizing the annealing temperature, heating/cooling rates and holding times, the phase composition of thermal processing of 1 or 2 was evaluated: phase pure spinel Co2CrO4 was obtained by thermal treatment already at 450 °C. The structure, morphology, and optical properties of spinel oxides prepared at different temperatures were characterized using powder XRD, field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), while electrical and magnetic by impedance spectroscopy and magnetization measurements. The determined band gap energy and nanosized crystallites prompted us to investigate the photocatalytic activity of spinel oxide produced at 450 °C in the degradation of dyes Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methylene blue (MB) under Vis irradiation without and with assistance of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The results show that the Co2CrO4/H2O2 system exhibits a significantly higher photoactivity response; the degradation efficiency of MB and RhB was found to be 86.1% and 80.3%, respectively. The electrical conductivity spectra and the activation energy for the DC conductivity demonstrate the electronically semiconducting behaviour of the Co2CrO4 oxide. The Co2CrO4 spinel has a ferrimagnetic ground state, with mixed CoII and CoIII ions on the tetrahedral and octahedral sites: CoII having a high spin state on both sites and CoIII having a high spin state on the tetrahedral site and a low spin state on the octahedral site. Different thermal treatments affect the magnetization according to the different sizes of the obtained crystallites.

Preparation and characterization of various PVPylated divalent metal-doped ferrite nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia.

There is an incessant demand to keep improving on the heating responses of polymeric magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) under magnetic excitation, particularly in the pursuit for them to be utilized for clinical hyperthermia applications. Herein, we report the fabrication of a panel of PVP-capped divalent metal-doped MFe2O4 (M ≅ Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, and Sn) MNPs prepared via the Ko-precipitation Hydrolytic Basic (KHB) methodology and assess their magneto-thermal abilities. The physiochemical, structural, morphological, compositional, and magnetic properties of the doped ferrites were fully characterized using various techniques mainly TEM, XRD, EDX, FTIR, and VSM. The obtained doped MNPs exhibited stabilized quasi-spherical sized particles (10-17 nm), pure well-crystallized cubic spinel phases, and high saturation magnetizations (Ms = 26-81 emu g-1). In response to a clinically-safe alternating magnetic field (AMF) (f = 332.8 kHz and H = 170 Oe), distinctive heating responses of these doped ferrites were attained. Hyperthermia temperatures of 42 °C can be reached very fast in only ∼5 min, with heating temperatures slowly increasing to reach up to 55 °C. The highest heating performance was observed for PVP-NiFe2O4 and the lowest for PVP-Sn-doped NPs (SAR values: PVP-NiFe2O4 > PVP-CoFe2O4 > PVP-ZnFe2O4 > PVP-MgFe2O4 > PVP-SnFe2O4). This trend was found to be directly correlated to their observed magnetic saturation and anisotropy. Heating efficiencies and specific SAR values as functions of concentration, frequency, and amplitude were also systematically investigated. Finally, cytotoxicity assay was conducted on aqueous dispersions of the doped ferrite NPs, proving their biocompatibility and safety profiles. The PVPylated metal-doped ferrite NPs prepared here, particularly Ni- and Co-doped ferrites, are promising vehicles for potential combined magnetically-triggered biomedical hyperthermia applications.

Field induced metamagnetic transition and mixed charge transfer Mott-Hubbard character in nanocrystalline FeCo2O4 spinel oxide: A combined study using experimental and first principles techniques

Unusual magnetic behavior of nanocrystalline FeCo2O4 (FCO) has been observed at different annealing temperatures. FCO nanoparticles have been prepared by co-precipitation method and the prepared sample annealed at different temperatures to vary its crystallite size. The powder x-ray diffraction analysis confirms the presence of pure spinel phase in the samples annealed at 900 ℃ and 1000℃. The increase in particle size with annealing temperature has been confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. High resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS) analysis reveals the presence of mixed oxidation states of Fe+2/ Fe+3 and Co+3/Co+2 in the sample annealed at 900℃. The as-synthesized sample at 80 °C shows strong antiferromagnetic behavior due to their smaller particle size, but all the annealed samples have strong ferromagnetic behavior with large coercive field and remanence due to their larger particle size. We have observed a sharp rise in magnetization near small field values in the virgin curve and also the presence of virgin curve completely outside the main hysteresis loop in the M(H) curves measured at 5 K for the samples annealed at and above 1000 ℃ reveal the characteristic of first order nature of field induced metamagnetic transition. Structural parameters obtained after Rietveld refinement of powder x-ray diffraction pattern for sample annealed at 900 ℃ have been used for investigating the magnetic properties using first principles density functional theory. Our calculations using hybrid exchange-correlation functional, HSE06 captures the correct insulating ferromagnetic ground state and band gap for inverse spinel structure in broad agreement with our experimental results while calculations within GGA+U leads to a wrong half metallic ferromagnetic ground state. The partial density of states obtained for inverse spinel structure with HSE06 functional suggests a mixed charge transfer and Mott-Hubbard character in our system. We have explored the interplay among structural, magnetic and transport properties of FCO using experiment as well as first principles density functional theory.

Effects of Bi2O3–CuO additives on microstructure and microwave properties of low-temperature-sintered NiCuZn ferrite ceramics

In this study, (Ni0.2Cu0.2Zn0.6O)1.03(Fe2O3)0.97 ferrite ceramics with low microwave loss were synthesized through low-temperature sintering and doped with low eutectic mixture Bi2O3–CuO. Additionally, the influence of Bi2O3–CuO doping amount on phase composition, microstructure, and microwave performance of NiCuZn ferrite ceramics was systematically explored. It was found that all samples exhibited pure spinel phase. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that appropriate doping amount of the Bi2O3–CuO mixture promoted grain growth and densification, leading to dense dual microstructure in NiCuZn ferrite ceramics. Notably, this microstructure significantly enhanced microwave properties of the material. For Bi2O3–CuO doping amount of 0.5 wt % and at sintering temperature of 910 °C, the NiCuZn ferrite ceramics exhibited low ferromagnetic resonance linewidth (ΔH ≈ 90 Oe), minimal dielectric loss (tanδε ≈ 2.73 × 10−4) at 9.3 GHz, and high saturation magnetization (4πMs ≈ 3644 Gauss). These results highlight the potential of Bi2O3–CuO as promising sintering aid, which could support the application of NiCuZn ferrite ceramics to microwave devices.

Silver and nickel modified cobalt-zinc nanostructured ferrites for potential applications

In this analysis, silver and nickel modified cobalt-zinc nanostructured ferrites, with chemical compositions of Co0.5Zn0.5AgxNiyFe2-x-yO4 (x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03; y = 0.0, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04) were prepared employing sol–gel auto-combustion (SGAC). All samples were inspected for elementary, structural, microstructural, and magnetic traits. The Fd3m space group geometry with pure spinel phase for the produced nanoferrites was shown by Rietveld’s refined X-ray diffraction patterns. Using the Scherrer formula, X-ray diffraction indicated that samples attain a crystallite size (t) of 38-63 (± 0.01) nm. The field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that grain growth was not uniform but rather agglomerated, of varying shapes and sizes. The vibrational stretching within the metal-oxygen at interstitial sites was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which clearly indicates the creation of Co-Zn spinel nanoferrites. Furthermore, in all the produced samples, five active Raman vibrational modes (Eg, 3T2g, A1g) are present, and all of these are related to the cubic spinel structure. A vibrating sample magnetometer is utilized to examine the magnetic traits of produced magnetic samples, displaying soft magnetic behavior. The Co0.5Zn0.5AgxNiyFe2-x-yO4 (x = 0.00; y = 0.00) sample attains the maximum saturation magnetization (Ms = 64.94 (± 0.001) emu g−1), whereas the maximum coercivity (Hc = 217.33 ± 0.001 Oe) was attained by the Co0.5Zn0.5AgxNiyFe2-x-yO4 (x = 0.03; y = 0.04) sample, respectively. Therefore, due to the magnetic softness and excellent values of magnetic parameters of the integrated samples, it is possible to use them for potential applications such as recording media, switching, multi-layer chip indicators (MLCIs), and power applications.

Impact of Process Parameters and Dopant Concentration on Structural, Magnetic, and Dielectric Properties of Dysprosium-doped Nickel-Zinc Ferrites Synthesized by Microwave Hydrothermal Method

This study aims to investigate the impact of substituting Dy3+ ions on the structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn) ferrites, which have the chemical formula Ni0.5Zn0.5DyxFe2-xO4 (where x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, and 0.09). These ferrites were synthesized using a microwave hydrothermal technique with different process parameters. Structural characterization of the synthesized powders was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD analysis confirmed the presence of a pure spinel phase for Dy concentrations (x) up to 0.05. However, when x ≥ 0.07, an additional orthoferrite phase (DyFeO3) was observed along with the spinel phase. FTIR spectra revealed a shift in low-frequency wave numbers due to Dy3+ ion substitution. The size and morphology of the synthesized powder particles were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The powder compacts were sintered using microwave processing at 900 °C for 40 min. The increase in dc. resistivity is observed with an increase in Dy3+ concentration, mainly due to the change in the hopping mechanism with the substitution concentration. Dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and loss are measured in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 1.8 GHz. The high value of dielectric constant and loss observed in the low-frequency region compared to the high-frequency region. Maxwell’s Wagner model and ‘Koop’s theory explains the variation in dielectric properties with the frequency. The magnetic hysteresis loops were measured at different temperatures and observed to enhance the low-temperature magnetic properties compared to room temperature. The results suggest that the magnetic and dielectric properties of the investigated samples can be adjusted by varying the concentration of Dy3+ ions, providing the ability to tailor these properties according to specific application requirements.

Solid-State Reaction Synthesis of MgAl2O4 Spinel from MgO-Al2O3 Composite Particles Prepared via Electrostatic Adsorption.

This paper presents the formation of magnesium aluminate spinel using composite particles prepared via electrostatic adsorption (ESA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed the presence of Al2O3-MgO composite particles. A mixture of Al2O3 and MgO raw materials was also prepared by using the conventional bead-milling method for comparison. The samples sintered at elevated temperatures were characterized through X-ray diffraction, SEM, and relative density measurements. Additionally, the lattice parameter and strain of the samples were determined using the Nelson-Riley function and the Williamson-Hall equation. A pure spinel phase formed in the ESA-derived sample sintered at 1400 °C, while the MgO structure remained in the conventionally prepared sample sintered at 1600 °C. The densities of samples sintered at 1450 °C or higher exceeded 90%. The lattice strain of the prepared samples was inversely proportional to the sintering temperature, attributed to the formation of large grains at higher temperatures. However, the sample sintered at 1600 °C for 8 h exhibited the highest strain of 0.0074 because the crystals grew in a certain direction.

Superior photocatalytic performance of ancillary-oxidant-free novel starch supported nano MFe2O4 (M = Zn, Ni, and Fe) ferrites for degradation of organic dye pollutants

This work presents the effectual degradation of MB and MO dyes in an aqueous solution under UV light irradiation on nano ZnFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and Fe3O4 without using any supplementary oxidants has been reported. Nano ZnFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and Fe3O4 are successfully prepared via a co-precipitation technique utilizing biodegradable starch as a surfactant. XRD patterns reveal a pure spinel phase for all the samples. FTIR spectra confirm the successful embedding of the starch surfactant. SEM micrographs exhibit tiny spherical particles of size 5–8 and 4–6 nm for ZnFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 but spherical particles of 8–10 nm and flake-like particles of ∼14 nm thick for Fe3O4. N2 sorption studies show type-IV isotherms typical of mesoporous structures. The direct bandgap of these ferrite nanoparticles is 2.03–2.15 eV, related to the metal D-d onsite transfers, which are permitted by spin but prohibited by parity. MB decolorization of 99% is achieved in less than 2 h for all the samples; in contrast, MO decolorization takes relatively longer irradiation. The decolorization kinetics suggests that the pseudo-second-order model is more appropriate to explain the decolorization process of MB and MO by the catalysts. The order of photocatalytic activity evaluated from rate constant (k1) per SSA values is Fe3O4 < ZnFe2O4 < NiFe2O4 for both MB and MO decolorization. NiFe2O4 photocatalyst shows the best effect on the decolorization of both dyes due to its low bandgap and high surface area. All the ferrite catalysts demonstrate high stability with no substantial deterioration of photocatalytic activity even after three cycles. The results of this study endorse that the nano ferrites prepared in this work are potential candidates for the photocatalytic degradation of aqueous solutions of MB and MO.

Design and fabrication of magnetic Fe3O4-QSM nanoparticles loaded with ciprofloxacin as a potential antibacterial agent

In this investigation, we have synthesized magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) coated with quince seed mucilage (QSM) as a natural, biocompatible, and biodegradable component and loaded them with ciprofloxacin (CIP) to act as an antibacterial agent. The structural, magnetic, physicochemical, colloidal, and antibacterial properties of the samples were tested using various characterization tools such as XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, VSM, FT-IR, UV–Vis, DLS, BET, and disk diffusion for testing the antibacterial properties. XRD and VSM results confirmed the fabrication of a highly pure cubic spinel phase for Fe3O4. The results of FE-SEM and TEM analyses indicate a spherical morphology of the magnetite NPs with a mean diameter of about 13 nm, and the results of DLS show a hydrodynamic diameter of 81.9 to 119.2 nm. The zeta potential value for the magnetic Fe3O4 NPs was as high as −55.2 mV, indicating suitable colloidal stability of the NPs for biological applications. The VSM results indicate a high saturation magnetization of the samples as well as a small coercivity and Remanence of the samples, which indicate the superparamagnetic property of the NPs. It was also indicated that the amount of drug adsorbed on the magnetic nanoparticles at different pH values (5.5 to 6.5) is about 85 %. It was likewise detected that the synthesized Fe3O4@QSM-CIP NPs possess antibacterial activity against standard strains of both Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria (minimum inhibitory concentration = 100 ppm). The overall findings imply that the proposed magnetic NPs with antibacterial activity are promising for biomedical applications.