Influence of Neodymium Doping on the Thermomagnetic Response and Colloidal Behavior of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles

Editorial Board PCSS Journal; M. Mokliak; L. Kaykan; J. Mazurenko; M. Moiseienko; M. Kuzyshyn; I. Dovbnia; N. Ilnitsky; S. Yuryev; V. Mokliak

doi:10.15330/pcss.26.3.564-577

Authors

M. Mokliak Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian 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
J. Mazurenko Laboratory for Physics of Magnetic Films, G.V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics, N.A.S. of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
M. Moiseienko Department of Medical Informatics, Medical and Biological Physics, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
M. Kuzyshyn Department of Medical Informatics, Medical and Biological Physics, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
I. Dovbnia Department of Medical Informatics, Medical and Biological Physics, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
N. Ilnitsky Department of Medical Informatics, Medical and Biological Physics, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
S. Yuryev Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv, Ukraine
V. Mokliak Laboratory for Physics of Magnetic Films, G.V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics, N.A.S. of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15330/pcss.26.3.564-577

Keywords:

Copper Ferrite, Neodymium substitution, Magnetic nanoparticles, Magnetic hyperthermia, Energy-efficient therapy, Box Lucas Method, Newton Cooling Approach

Abstract

In this work, CuNd_xFe_2-xO₄ (x = 0.00 - 0.11) nanoparticles were synthesized via a sol-gel autocombustion method and systematically investigated to evaluate the impact of neodymium substitution on their structural, magnetic, and heating performance for magnetic hyperthermia applications. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of spinel structures across all compositions. Magnetic characterization revealed a non-monotonic trend in saturation magnetization (Ms), reaching a maximum value of 62.11 emu/g at x = 0.05, while coercivity (Hc) varied between 236 and 273 Oe, reflecting the influence of Nd³⁺ on magnetic anisotropy. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant (K) was evaluated using both coercivity-based and high-field approaches, confirming enhanced anisotropy at moderate Nd substitution. Corresponding Néel relaxation times (τ_N) ranged from ~5 to 22 ns, supporting efficient magnetic heating for selected compositions.

Zeta potential measurements demonstrated enhanced colloidal stability with moderate Nd substitution, with values exceeding +30 mV, suggesting favorable dispersion conditions for biomedical use. Magnetic hyperthermia performance was assessed under an alternating magnetic field (23.8 kA/m, 357 kHz) using both Box–Lucas and Newton Cooling models. The highest specific absorption rate (SAR) values, were observed for x = 0.03, 0.05, and 0.11. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing rare-earth substitution to modulate surface charge, magnetic anisotropy, and relaxation behavior.

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