ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticles Research Articles

Photocatalytic degradation of cetirizine hydrochloride using polypyrrole decorated zinc ferrite nanohybrids under visible light irradiation.

The present work reports photocatalytic degradation of cetirizine hydrochloride (CTZ-HCl) utilizing polypyrrole (PPy) nanohybrids with ZnFe2O4 (ZnFe) nanoparticles. The synthesized materials were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, BET, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. UV diffuse reflectance studies (UV-DRS) revealed that the band gap was found to decrease with increase in the loading of PPy and Kubelka-Munk plots confirmed the bandgap values to be 2.14eV for ZnFe, 1.94eV for 1% PPy/ZnFe, 1.66eV for 3% PPy/ZnFe, and 1.38eV for 5% PPy/ZnFe. The photocatalytic performance against CTZ-HCl degradation was performed under visible light irradiation for 60min. The effect of catalyst dosage and the effect of drug concentration were investigated to confirm degradation behavior of the PPy/ZnFe photocatalysts. The degradation followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics model. Maximum photocatalytic degradation was observed to be 98% within 60min using 5% PPy/ZnFe as the photocatalyst. The recyclability tests revealed that the 5% PPy/ZnFe photocatalyst was reusable up to 4 cycles. Radical scavenging studies confirmed the generation of ●OH radicals that were responsible for the drug degradation. The degraded fragments were analyzed using LCMS technique and the tentative mechanism of degradation was proposed.

Facile green preparation of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles using papaya leaf extract for electrochemical detection of acetaminophen in Zerodol P and Dolo drops

Facile green preparation of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles using papaya leaf extract for electrochemical detection of acetaminophen in Zerodol P and Dolo drops

Synthesis of novel Ag-doped ZnFe based-oxides nanocomposite for wastewater treatment, self-cleaning, and corrosion resistance

To tackle the critical environmental and industrial challenges, this research endeavors to develop nanomaterial with enhanced photocatalytic function, corrosion resistance, self-cleaning capabilities, and optimal effluent treatment. This research successfully synthesized Ag@ZnFe2O4 nanocomposite to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the removal of Congo red from water. The structural composition and morphology of the materials were examined by the utilization of XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM with EDS and TEM. The study examined the impacts of catalyst dosage, concentrations of PMS, pH, and simultaneous ions on the experiment, as well as the ability of the nanocomposites to be reused and their stability. The photocatalytic degradation process was hypothesized to operate using free radical trapping tests. Results indicated that the heterostructure junction flanked by ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and Ag promoted charge transfer, reducing electron-hole recombination. By adding 5mg of Ag@ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite, Congo red degradation was optimized at 98.7% due to the huge surface area of Ag microflowers, which boosted active sites and CR elimination. Due to nanoparticle surface charge, PMS speciation, and radical interactions, CR degradation was most efficient at pH 7.3 and less efficient at pH 9.5. CR degradation rates rose with PMS concentration, reaching 34.7%, 67.9%, and 97.9% at 0.3, 0.6, and 1mM, respectively. The order of the inhibitory action was CO32− > H2PO4− > Cl− > NO3−. Free radical entrapment experiments show that hydroxyl (•OH) and sulfate radicals (•SO₄⁻) are key in CR photodegradation, with h+ and •O₂ being the main active species. ESR tests revealed radicals, while electron transfer between ZnFe₂O₄ and Ag boosted carrier migration, driving redox cycles and CR breakdown into stable byproducts like CO₂ and H₂O. Light-induced reaction eliminated 45.8% of TOC, indicating CR partial mineralization. Mechanism of PMS-based photodegradation of CR removal was proposed. This study underscores the promising potential of Ag@ZnFe2O4/nanocomposites for PMS activation in degrading Congo red-contaminated wastewater. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that a polymeric nanocomposite coating greatly improves the ability to resist corrosion in steel substrates when exposed to a 3.5% NaCl solution. This is achieved by reducing the corrosion current density and boosting corrosion resistance. Superhydrophobic nanocomposite coatings repel water and pollutants, safeguarding various substrates from soil residues.

Construction of novel dual wave-absorbing ZnFe2O4/CNTs nanoparticles with more hotspots for enhanced microwave-induced catalytic activity：Performance and mechanism

In this study, novel dual wave-absorbing ZnFe2O4/CNTs nanoparticles were successfully fabricated using a microwave hydrothermal method and applied for enhanced microwave-induced catalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution. The effects of various process parameters, including Fe3+ concentration (mass ratio of ZnFe2O4 to CNTs), MW irradiation time, MW power, initial BPA concentration, and catalyst dose on the degradation process were thoroughly assessed. The results indicate that ZnFe2O4/CNTs nanoparticles effectively utilize MW energy to generate more hot spots and exhibit superior MW catalytic activity at a 1.0:10.0 mass ratio (ZnFe2O4:CNTs), due to the synergistic effect between ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and CNTs under MW irradiation. Additionally, hydroxyl radicals (·OH) play a major role in the degradation process, while superoxide radicals (·O2−) and holes (h+) play relatively minor roles. Potential intermediates and degradation pathways in the ZnFe2O4/CNTs/MW system have also been identified. Thus, the integrated ZnFe2O4/CNTs/MW technology shows great promise for treating environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) in water and wastewater.

Magnetical scafford with ROS-scavenging for bone regeneration under static magnetic field

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and bacterial infection significantly disrupt the microenvironment of tissue regeneration. Magnetic nanoparticles in combination with magnetic fields are emerging strategies to regulate tissue regeneration. In this work, ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) nanoparticles were prepared and subsequently decorated with polydopamine (PDA) and RGD peptide. The modified ZFO nanoparticles were loaded into polylactic-glycolic acid/polycaprolactone (PLGA/PCL) scaffolds as PP-ZFO/PDA-RGD magnetic scaffolds. Physicochemical, anti-ROS, antibacterial and osteogenic properties were evaluated in vitro. Under 30 mT static magnetic field, the PP-ZFO/PDA-RGD scaffold significantly enhanced the expression of ALP, RUNX2, BMP2 and mineralized nodules. It indicated that the magnetic system could promote the attachment, proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. The scaffold showed excellent ROS scavenging ability via the additive effect of ZFO, PDA and RGD. The remarkable antibacterial properties of Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ endowed the scaffolds with excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. These results demonstrate that the PP-ZFO/PDA-RGD based magnetic system is a promising approach for bone regeneration under complex microenvironment.

Evaluation of magnetic hyperthermia, drug delivery and biocompatibility (bone cell adhesion and zebrafish assays) of trace element co-doped hydroxyapatite combined with Mn-Zn ferrite for bone tissue applications.

The treatment and regeneration of bone defects, especially tumor-induced defects, is an issue in clinical practice and remains a major challenge for bone substitute material invention. In this research, a composite material of biomimetic bone-like apatite based on trace element co-doped apatite (Ca10-δ M δ (PO4)5.5(CO3)0.5(OH)2; M = trace elements of Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni, Mo, Sr and BO3 3-; THA)-integrated-biocompatible magnetic Mn-Zn ferrite ((Mn, Zn)Fe2O4 nanoparticles, BioMags) called THAiBioMags was prepared via a co-precipitation method. Its characteristics, i.e., physical properties, hyperthermia performance, ion/drug delivery, were investigated in vitro using osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and in vivo using zebrafish. The synthesized THAiBioMags particles revealed superparamagnetic behaviour at room temperature. Under the influence of an alternating magnetic field, THAiBioMags particles demonstrated a change in temperature, indicating their potential for magnetic hyperthermia, in which THAiBioMags further exhibited a specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 9.44 W g-1 (I = 44 A, H = 6.03 kA m-1 and f = 130 kHz). In addition, the as-prepared particles demonstrated sustained ion/drug (doxorubicin (DOX)) release under physiological pH conditions. Biological assay analysis revealed that THAiBioMags exhibited no toxicity towards osteoblast cells and demonstrated excellent cell adhesion properties. In vivo studies employing an embryonic zebrafish model showed the non-toxic nature of the synthesized THAiBioMags particles, as revealed by evaluation of the survivability, hatching rate, and embryonic morphology. These results could potentially lead to the design and fabrication of magnetic scaffolds to be used in therapeutic treatment and bone regeneration.

Enhancing output performance of triboelectric nanogenerators with ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles in biodegradable polylactic acid for sustainable energy harvesting

ABSTRACT The development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) using sustainable materials addresses the global electronic waste issue. This research focuses on fabricating a TENG device with biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) as the tribopositive material and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the tribonegative material. ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles are incorporated into the PLA matrix to enhance surface charge density and synthesised via a simple combustion method. PLA-ZnFe2O4 composite films were prepared by solvent casting with varying nanofiller content (0.25, 0.45, 0.65, and 0.85 g). Prepared composites were characterised by Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) for crystalline nature and phase purity, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for vibrational analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology. The inclusion of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles improves TENG output performance, with a maximum output voltage of 18.4 V and a current of 1.57 µA observed for a PLA (poly(lactic acid)) composite with 39.39% nanoparticle content. Electrical studies on the optimised device show successful charging of various capacitors and powering 20 LEDs and a calculator. Body movements like walking and jumping were also tested to measure voltage and current outputs. These findings highlight new possibilities for developing smart, self-powered electronic devices.

Experimental investigation of zinc ferrite/insulation oil nanofluid natural convection heat transfer, AC dielectric breakdown voltage, and thermophysical properties

Improving the thermal and dielectric properties of insulation oil (INO) with nanoadditives is an important challenge, and achieving dispersion stability in these nanofluids is quite challenging, necessitating further investigation. The main goal of this study is the synthesis and use of the hydrophobicity of zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanoparticles, which can improve both the thermal and dielectric properties of the INO. This oil is made from distillate (petroleum), including severely hydrotreated light naphthenic oil (75–85%) and severely hydrotreated light paraffinic oil (15–25%). A comprehensive investigation was carried out, involving the creation of nanofluids with ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles at various concentrations, and employing various characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), zeta potential analysis, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The KD2 Pro thermal analyzer was used to investigate the thermal characteristics, including the thermal conductivity coefficient (TCC) and volumetric heat capacity (VHC). Under free convection conditions, the free convection heat transfer coefficient (FCHTC) and Nusselt numbers (Nu) were evaluated, revealing enhancements ranging from 14.15 to 11.7%. Furthermore, the most significant improvement observed in the AC Breakdown voltage (BDV) for nanofluids containing 0.1 wt% of ZnFe2O4 amounted to 17.3%. The most significant finding of this study is the improvement in the heat transfer performance, AC BDV, and stability of the nanofluids.

Effect of solvothermal reaction time on adsorption and photocatalytic activity of spinel ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles

The present investigation explored the impact of solvothermal reaction time on the adsorption properties of synthesized spinel ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticles (ZF NPs) and their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of congo red (CR) dye. The structure, morphology and chemical composition is identified for the synthesized ZF NPs. The reaction times for the solvothermal synthesis of ZF NPs were investigated at time intervals of 6 hrs and 18 hrs which are denoted as ZF-6 h and ZF-18 h respectively. The XRD confirms the formation of spinel-type ZF-6 h and ZF-18 h with crystallite size of 5.50 nm and 8.36 nm for ZF-6 h and ZF-18 h respectively. The FESEM image of ZF-6 h exhibits microspheres, whereas in ZF-18 h NPs, the microspheres undergoes deformation. TEM analysis of ZF-6 h revealed that the microspheres were consists of 8–10 nm size ZF-NPs. Raman spectroscopy and XPS studies indicates, the reaction time influence the occupancy with 64 % and 32 % of inversion of Zn2+ cations from tetrahedral to octahedral sites in ZF-6 h and ZF-18 h, respectively. The surface area of mesoporous ZF-6 h and ZF-18 h are 138.29 m2/g and 128.41 m2/g respectively as confirmed using BET and BJH techniques. The CR dye adsorption capacity of 123.73 mg/g for ZF-6 h is higher compared to ZF-18 h (99.93 mg/g). The maximum dye removal efficiency evaluated for ZF-6 h NPs and ZF-18 h NPs was 87.33 % and 73.09 % respectively upon exposure of natural sunlight. The recyclability study identifies that ZF-6 h NPs remain stable for three degradation cycles. These results indicate that reaction time in solvothermal synthesis is sensitive to the morphology and physicochemical properties of ZF NPs. The enhanced performance of such ZF NPs is attributed to the synergistic effect of adsorption followed by photocatalytic (photo-Fenton) degradation of dyes.

Role of active redox sites and charge transport resistance at reaction potentials in spinel ferrites for improved oxygen evolution reaction

Fe and Ni oxide-based systems are often investigated as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water electrolysis and the improvement in OER activity is explained by two main reasons, (i) improving bulk electrical conductivity and (ii) synergic effect between Ni and Fe. Among the two factors, the identification of the dominant factor for OER is very important for catalyst engineering in the right direction. In order to have a better understanding, spinel-structured ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized and its bulk conductivity is studied by progressively varying Ni doping. The conductivity of the synthesised compounds follows the order of ZnFe2O4 > Ni0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 > Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 > Ni0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 > NiFe2O4. The oxygen evolution studies reveal that NiFe2O4 is highly active with an onset potential of 1.57 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and Tafel slope of 102 mV/dec. With the increase in Ni doping, the structure changes from spinel to inverse spinel as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. Further, the contribution from Ni redox sites in addition to Fe ion sites and FexNi1−xOOH species formation, causes improved OER performance. This study uniquely proves that the OER activity majorly relies on redox/active metal sites, FexNi1−xOOH species and charge transfer resistance at OER potential rather than the bulk electrical conductivity of spinel ferrites. This conclusion is supported by voltammetry and impedance studies of five different spinel ferrites.

Coconut shell waste-based ZnFe2O4/PANI/rGO nanohybrid composites as excellent radar-absorbing material

In this work, we developed ZnFe2O4/PANI/rGO nanocomposites based on coconut shell waste through in situ polymerization as excellent radar-absorbing material (RAM). This research mainly focused on adjusting the ZnFe2O4 content to obtain optimal absorption of radar waves, especially in the X-band. The results showed that the diffraction pattern of the ZnFe2O4/PANI/rGO nanocomposites showed multiple phases (crystalline and amorphous), which increased the ZnFe2O4 content and affected the increasing diffraction intensity. The functional group of the ZnFe2O4/PANI/rGO nanocomposites was identified with the presence of the M–O group originating from ZnFe2O4 at wavenumbers 517 and 419 cm−1 of Zn–O and Fe–O groups, respectively. Meanwhile, quinoid and benzenoid rings from PANI and CO from rGO were identified at wavenumbers 1580, 1504, and 1710 cm−1, respectively. The morphology of the ZnFe2O4/PANI/rGO nanocomposites showed PANI was distributed on the ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles, which were subsequently deposited on the rGO. The ZnFe2O4/PANI/rGO nanocomposites exhibited superparamagnetic properties, as confirmed by their coercivity values ranging from 9.2 to 124.4 Oe. Interestingly, the ZnFe2O4/PANI/rGO nanocomposites with the P3 sample showed optimal RAM performance with a minimum reflection loss value of −39.8 dB at 7.6-GHz frequency with an effective absorption bandwidth of 1.1 GHz.

Magnesium incorporation-mediated formation of oxygen vacancies in zinc ferrite for PMS activation toward effective photocatalytic 4-nitrophenol degradation

Developing highly effective heterogeneous photocatalysts for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in the photodegradation of chemical effluents remains challenging. In this study, ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) nanoparticles (NPs) incorporated with different magnesium ratios were prepared using a cost-effective microwave process. The resulting Mgx:ZFO catalysts were characterized by several analysis techniques, and the effect of Mg incorporation on the photocatalytic 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) degradation was studied. The results revealed that incorporating Mg into the ZFO structure substantially improved the photocatalytic removal efficiency of 4-NP from 62 % to 89 %. Compared with pure ZFO, Mg:ZFO contained more surface oxygen vacancies (SOVs), which can facilitate the generation and transfer of photocarriers, promote PMS activation, and improve photocatalytic performance. The ZFO catalysts exhibited larger surface areas after Mg incorporation, which provided more active sites for 4-NP removal. Finally, the bandgap energy of ZFO was widened from ∼ 1.67 eV to ∼ 1.80 eV after Mg incorporation, which could reduce photocarrier recombination and result in higher photocatalytic removal efficiency.

A biodegradable ZnFe2O4/PLLA electrospun fibers based longitudinal mode piezoelectric membrane for health monitoring

Recently, multifunctional sensors based on piezoelectric active film fabricated with environmental friendly materials is a nascent field which can address the growing concern of electronic waste. Nevertheless, frequently utilized poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) encounter challenges of limited biocompatibility and weak piezoelectricity with low shear piezoelectric coefficient (d14), respectively. Accordingly, a biodegradable piezoelectric sensor comprising of PLLA nanofiber blended with ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles was developed in this work. The ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles served as heterogeneous nucleation center leading to improved piezoelectric coefficient and output than pure PLLA due to more consistent orientation of CO dipoles. The ZnFe2O4/PLLA film exhibited significant performance improvement featured with 1.7-fold higher longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient (d33 ∼ 6.5 ± 0.3 pm/V), nearly 250 % boosting on the output voltage. The ZnFe2O4/PLLA piezoelectric sensor induced high sensitivity (2–10 N:0.55 V/N; 10–32 N:0.29 V/N) and excellent mechanical stability for 27,000 cycles. The results of the soil burial experiment demonstrate that the film can degrade by over 75 % within 90 days, confirming its excellent biodegradability. Moreover, the ZnFe2O4/PLLA nanofibers based piezoelectric sensor could serve as effective detection evidenced by different output signals of head motion, pulse and artery beating demonstrating its feasible application for health monitoring. Considering the characteristics of straightforward fabrication and readily accessible sustainable materials, the ZnFe2O4/PLLA sensor provides an appealing eco-friendly solution for self-powered flexible personal devices disregarding the need to dispose of electronic waste.

"Three-in-One": Ultrasensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay Driven by Magnetic Enrichment and Photothermal Signal Amplification.

Conventional lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) usually suffers from poor antimatrix interference, unsatisfactory sensitivity, and lack of quantitative ability for target analyte detection in food matrices. In response to these limits, here, multifunctional nanomaterial ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles (ZFOs) were developed and integrated into LFIA for powerful magnetic separation/enrichment and colorimetric/photothermal target sensing. Under optimum conditions, the detection for clenbuterol (CL) with magnetic enrichment achieves 9-fold higher sensitivity compared to that without enrichment and 162-fold higher sensitivity compared to that based on traditional colloidal golds. Attributing the improved performances of ZFOs, CL can be detected at ultralow levels in pork and milk with 10 min of immunoreaction time. The vLODs were 0.01 μg kg-1 for two modes, and the cutoff values of CL were about 5 and 3 μg kg-1, respectively. More importantly, the enrichment ZFO-mediated LFIA (ZE-LFIA) exhibits a similar limit of detection (LOD) in both buffer solution and food matrix, demonstrating a universal resistance to the food matrix. The multitudinous performance merits of this ZE-LFIA with high sensitivity, matrix tolerance, accuracy, and specificity have ensured a broad application potential for target detection of clenbuterol and can serve as an experience for other veterinary drug residues' detection.

Green synthesis of zinc ferrite nanoparticles from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis: unveiling larvicidal potential, protein binding affinity and photocatalytic activities.

Environmental pollution, being a major concern worldwide, needs a unique and ecofriendly solution. To answer this, researchers are aiming in utilizing plant extracts for the synthesis of nanoparticles. These NPs synthesized using plant extracts provide a potential, environmentally benign technique for biological and photocatalytic applications. Especially, plant leaf extracts have been safe, inexpensive, and eco-friendly materials for the production of nanoparticles in a greener way. In this work, zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4 NPs) were prepared using Nyctanthes arbor-tristis leaf extract by hydrothermal method, and its biological and photocatalytic properties were assessed. The synthesized ZnFe2O4 NPs were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). X-ray diffraction confirmed the arrangement of the fcc crystal structure of the nanoparticles and that some organic substances were encapsulated within the zinc ferrite. According to the SEM analysis, the resulting nanoparticles got agglomerated and spherical in shape. The ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles are in their pure form, and all of their elemental compositions were shown by the energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) spectrum. The FTIR results revealed that the produced nanoparticles contained distinctive functional groups. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to examine the binding affinities between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles in terms of protein binding, stability, and conformation. The interaction between BSA and ZnFe2O4 NPs was examined using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements, and it was evident that static quenching occurred. The ability of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles to kill Culex quinquefasciatus (C. quinquefasciatus) larvae was evaluated. The synthesized NPs demonstrated a noteworthy toxic effect against the fourth instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus with LC50 values of 43.529µg/mL and LC90 values of 276.867µg/mL. This study revealed the toxicity of green synthesized ZnFe2O4 NPs on mosquito larvae, proving that these NPs are good and effective larvicides. Furthermore, the ZnFe2O4 NPs were utilized for dye degradation of methylene blue under visible light treatment and achieved 99.5% degradation.

Unveiling the effect of Bi in ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles in electrochemical sensors

This work investigates the effect of the inclusion of Bi3+ ions in ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles on electron transfer at the electrochemical interface. ZnBixFe2-xO4 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 2) nanomaterials are synthesized and the impact of Bi3+ ions on the chemical features of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles is studied by using different materials’ characterization techniques. The effect of the change in the chemical composition of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles on the electrochemical sensing performance is extensively studied and correlated with the electrochemical sensitivity and kinetic rate constant. Screen-printed electrodes functionalized with ZnBixFe2-xO4 nanomaterials have an excellent enhancement of electrochemical sensing performance towards paracetamol, as a test molecule, compared to the carbon electrodes. The highest sensitivity (37.8 ± 0.2 μA/mM) and the best kinetic rate constant (13.1 ± 2.8 ms−1) are achieved by the ZnFe2O4 sensor, while the ZnBi2O4 sensor achieved a sensitivity of (23.5 ± 0.6) μA/mM with a kinetic rate constant of (0.45 ± 0.16) ms−1. The ZnFe2O4 sensor is found to have a direct electron transfer, whereas the other sensors participate in a surface state-mediated electron transfer at the electrochemical interface. This research shows a clear path to the potential applications of spinel oxide-based electrochemical sensors for specific drugs or molecules detection.

Enhanced Removal of Rhodamine b Dye from Aqueous Media via Adsorption on Facilely Synthesized Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles

This paper studies the synthesis, characterization, and application of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles for the removal of rhodamine b dye from aqueous media. Utilizing the combustion procedure, ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using two different fuels: glutamine (SG) and L-arginine (SA). In addition, the synthesized ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were characterized through various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. XRD analysis verified the creation of a ZnFe2O4 cubic spinel structure without any contaminants, revealing average crystallite sizes of 43.72 and 29.38 nm for the SG and SA samples, respectively. The FTIR spectra exhibited peaks indicative of metal-oxygen bond stretching, verifying the presence of a spinel formation. Elemental analysis via EDX confirmed the stoichiometric composition typical of zinc ferrite. In addition, FE-SEM imaging displayed that the SG and SA samples are composed of particles with irregular and spherical shapes, measuring average diameters of 135.11 and 59.89 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the BET surface area of the SG and SA samples is 60 and 85 m2/g, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of the SA sample (409.84 mg/g) towards rhodamine b dye was higher than that of the SG sample (279.33 mg/g), which was ascribed to its larger surface area and porosity. Kinetic and equilibrium studies revealed that the adsorption process of rhodamine b dye onto the SG and SA samples followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous, exothermic, and physical. The study concludes that ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles synthesized using L-arginine (SA) exhibit enhanced rhodamine b dye removal efficiency due to their smaller size, increased surface area, and higher porosity compared to those synthesized with glutamine (SG). The optimum conditions for the adsorption process of rhodamine b dye were found to be at pH 10, a contact time of 70 min, and a temperature of 298 K. These findings underscore the potential of L-arginine-synthesized ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles for effective and sustainable environmental cleanup applications.

Unveiling the synergy: Biocompatible alginate-cellulose hydrogel loaded with silk fibroin and zinc ferrite nanoparticles for enhanced cell adhesion, and anti-biofilm activity

Combining a biocompatible hydrogel scaffold with the cell-supportive properties of silk fibroin (SF) and the unique functionalities of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles creates a promising platform for advanced nanobiomaterials. The research is centered on synthesizing a natural hydrogel using cellulose (Cellul) and sodium alginate (SA) combined with SF and zinc ferrite nanoparticles. A range of analytical and biological assays were conducted to determine the biological and physicochemical properties of the nanobiocomposite. The hemolysis and 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays indicated that the SA-Cellul hydrogel/SF/ZnFe2O4 nanobiocomposite was a biocompatible against human dermal fibroblasts (Hu02) and red blood cells (RBC). In addition, aside from demonstrating outstanding anti-biofilm activity, the nanobiocomposite also promotes the Hu02 cells adhesion, showcasing the synergistic effect of incorporating SF and ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle. These promising results show that this nanobiocomposite has potential applications in various biomedical fields.

Synthesis of self-assembled spherical ZnFe2O4 nanomaterials by the premixed stagnation flame method for highly sensitive acetone sensor

The efficient and reliable detection of acetone is critical for industrial safety, environmental monitoring, and human health. Separately, ZnFe2O4 particles were synthesized by using the premixed stagnation flame method and the co-precipitation method. The premixed stagnation flame method was used to create self-assembled spherical ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles with uniform morphology, polycrystalline morphology, and excellent phase purity. The effect of the gas-sensitive performance of these sensors for two routes on acetone vapor was compared. The sensor synthesized using the premixed stagnation flame method had a response value of up to 26 at 235°C for 100 ppm acetone vapor. It revealed outstanding reproducibility, stability, and selectivity for acetone vapor, which is attributed to the 10 nm "lychee-like" particle structure uniformly dispersed on the surface of the 400–500 nm spherical particles, forming a unique self-assembled structure. The self-assembled spherical structure has a large specific surface area, abundant oxygen adsorption, and oxygen vacancies, which effectively increases the reaction sites and electron mobility inside and outside the nanoparticles. The premixed stagnation flame method of producing spherical ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles presents a viable method for developing extremely sensitive, fast-responding, and selective acetone vapor sensors.

Efficient removal of Pb (II) ions from aqueous solution by the Moringa oleifera synthesized magnetic ZnFe2O4 spinel nanoparticles

Water-based Pb(II)ion removal was tested on Moringa oleifera modified ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles. For the strong crystal plane, XRD analysis predicts high crystallinity and 18 nm average crystallite sizes. Tetrahedral and octahedral spikes oscillate at 650 and 482 cm−1, metal ions like Zn-O and Fe-O resonate at 400–600 cm−1. Porosity particles and complicated integration linkages with hydroxyl groups from distinct fatty acid sequences characterise omega-3 and zinc ion nanoparticles. HRTEM images revealed spherical ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles with an average diameter of 8–12 nm and interplanar spacing and lattice fringes matching the tetragonal phase's (311) crystal plane. Due to interparticle gaps, N2 equilibrium temperatures at 77.5 K produced mesoporous material with 120.6 m2 g−1 BET specific surface area and 15.6 nm pore width. Spinel ZnFe2O4 demonstrated photocatalytic activity in daylight with prolonged UV-to-visible photo absorption. Prepared nanoparticles exhibited ferromagnetic functionality, a saturation magnetic field of 10 emu/g, a permanence of 2 emu/g, and a forcefulness of 100 Oersted has, which is less than the significant value of 72 emu/g. Lead elimination kinetics show that PSO kinetics better capture adsorption kinetics than PFO kinetics. Rate diffusion-driven surface features may potentially explain Pb(II) adsorption kinetics. pH 6.2 is optimal for Pb(II) removal. Adsorption process seems endothermic and impulsive. Monolayer adsorption over a consistent region may have deposited Pb(II) on ZnFe2O4. Langmuir method found ZnFe2O4 maximum adsorption capacity of 142.2 lead (mg)/adsorbent (g) and it adsorbs lead (II) ions similarly to other adsorption agents, perhaps due to its large effective surface area.