ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Structural exploration and antimicrobial enhancement of cerium-doped Cr–Mg–Zn ferrite nanoparticles synthesised via the sol–gel method

Mahesh Gurav, Appasaheb Suryawanshi, Radhakrishanan Tigote, Subiya Kazi, Rameshwar Dongare, Rahul Khobragade, and Yuvraj Sarnikar

Shri. Madhavarao Patil Mahavidyalaya, Research Centre, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (Aurangabad), Sub Campus Dharashiv, Dharashiv, India

E-mail: rmtigote.chemobad@bamu.ac.in

Received: 10 October 2025  Accepted: 8 February 2026

Abstract:

Abstract

The sol–gel technique was used to synthesize Ce_xCr_0.5−xMg_0.5Zn_0.5Fe_1.5O₄ (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) spinel ferrite nanoparticles, including their thermal stability as 71.80%. The optical band gap is 3.81 to 3.3 eV, detected by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Infrared spectroscopy analysis reveals that the absorption band at 1128 cm⁻¹ indicates the formation of a cerium composite involving the Fe–O bond, while the band near 2350 cm⁻¹ signifies the presence of a Ce-Cr bond. Incorporating Ce3⁺ ions into the ferrite lattice resulted in an increase in the lattice parameter from 7.7880 to 7.8156 Å, indicating a cubic spinel structure as observed in the X-ray diffraction patterns. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis reveals that the grain size ranges from 21 to 25 nm, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirms the elemental Mg, Zn, Cr, Fe, and O stoichiometric ratio of the nanoparticles. The enhanced surface area of ferrite from 20.66 to 37.49 m²/g, with pore diameters between 1.05 and 9.27 nm and a pore volume of 3.30 cm³/g to 5.81 cm³/g, as analysed by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The ratio of remanence magnetisation to saturation magnetisation ranges from 0.018 to 0.019.Dielectric measurements designate that as frequency increases, both the dielectric constant and loss tangent decrease across all samples. As well as the potential application towards antimicrobial activities.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Structural morphology; Magnetic properties; Dielectric and antimicrobial property

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04734-4

Chemical Papers 80 (5) 5659–5676 (2026)