Neodymium Doped Copper Ferrite Nanocomposites as an Effective Magnetic Catalyst for the Organic Dyes Decomposition

Editorial Board PCSS Journal; M. Mokliak; R. Ilnytskyi; L. Kaykan; Yu. Mazurenko; L. Turovska; M. Moiseienko; V. Moklyak; V. Sheketa

doi:10.15330/pcss.27.1.215-225

Authors

M. Mokliak Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
R. Ilnytskyi Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
L. Kaykan Laboratory for Physics of Magnetic Films, G.V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics, N.A.S. of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Yu. Mazurenko Laboratory for Physics of Magnetic Films, G.V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics, N.A.S. of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; Department of Medical Informatics, Medical and Biological Physics, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
L. Turovska Department of Management and Business Administration, Faculty of Management, Vasyl Stefanyk Сarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
M. Moiseienko Department of Medical Informatics, Medical and Biological Physics, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
V. Moklyak Laboratory for Physics of Magnetic Films, G.V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics, N.A.S. of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; Department of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0174-7718
V. Sheketa Department of Software Engineering, Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15330/pcss.27.1.215-225

Keywords:

Spinel ferrites, Copper ferrite nanoparticles, Neodymium substitution, Nanocomposites, Water purification, Photocatalysis

Abstract

Neodymium-substituted copper ferrite nanoparticles with composition CuNd_xFe_2−xO₄ (x = 0.00–0.11) were synthesized via the sol–gel autocombustion method and systematically analyzed for their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties. X-ray diffraction combined with Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of a dominant spinel ferrite phase with minor secondary phases, while Nd incorporation induced a reduction in crystallite size and an increase in lattice microstrain without disrupting the long-range spinel structure. Optical studies based on diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy and Tauc analysis revealed direct allowed electronic transitions and a non-monotonic variation of the optical band gap (2.7–3.1 eV) as a function of Nd content, attributed to the combined effects of lattice distortion, defect states, and cation redistribution. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated through Congo Red degradation under light irradiation in the presence of H₂O₂. Nd substitution significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity, with CuNd_0.09Fe_1.91O₄ showing the highest degradation efficiency (~96%), whereas the highest apparent rate constant (Langmuir–Hinshelwood model) was observed for CuNd_0.05Fe_1.95O₄. The results demonstrate that controlled Nd substitution effectively tunes the structural and electronic properties of CuFe₂O₄, leading to improved photocatalytic performance and highlighting its potential for wastewater treatment applications.

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