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Engineering multifunctional Ni–Mg–Zn spinel nanoferrites through lanthanum doping: from band gap tuning to high photocatalytic activity
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DOI：10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.08.090.png)
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Abstract
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Rare-earth substitution is an effective strategy for tailoring the functional properties of spinel ferrites for environmental applications. In this work, the influence of La3+ substitution on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of Ni0.5Mg0.2Zn0.3LaxFe2-xO4 (x= 0.00–0.08) nanoferrites synthesized by the citrate combustion method was systematically investigated. The novelty of this study lies in correlating La3+-induced structural modifications with the visible-light photocatalytic performance of Ni–Mg–Zn ferrite nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of phase-pure cubic spinel nanoferrites. The crystallite size exhibited a non-monotonic variation with increasing La3+ content, reflecting the combined influence of lattice distortion and grain-growth behavior. Magnetic measurements confirmed the soft ferrimagnetic nature of all compositions, with saturation magnetization varying from 56.70 to 43.49 emu/g and coercivity remaining below 110 Oe. The composition-dependent magnetic behavior is attributed to the combined influence of La3+ incorporation, and possible modifications in magnetic exchange interactions, highlighting the potential of these nanoferrites for high-frequency magnetic applications. Optical analysis based on the Kubelka–Munk method revealed band-gap energies in the range of 1.95–1.87 eV, with the lowest value obtained for Ni0.5Mg0.2Zn0.3La0.06Fe1.94O4. This optimized composition exhibited outstanding visible-light photocatalytic activity, achieving 98.12% degradation of methylene blue and maintaining 96.19% of its initial activity after five successive reuse cycles, demonstrating excellent stability and recyclability. The enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to La3+-induced lattice distortion, oxygen-vacancy formation, improved visible-light absorption, and reduced electron–hole recombination. These results demonstrate that controlled La3+ substitution is an effective approach for optimizing the structural and optical properties of Ni–Mg–Zn ferrites, making them promising visible-light-driven magnetic photocatalysts for sustainable wastewater treatment.
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