(La,Sr)(Mn,Me)O3 manganites doped with d metals: Study of charge compensation mechanisms by crystallographic and magnetic characterizations

A comparison between theoretically calculated unit cell volume and interatomic distances in the system La_0.7Sr_0.3Mn_1−xMe_xO_3+δ (where Me = Cu, Fe, Cr, Ti) and the experimental data obtained by the full-profile Rietveld X-ray analysis as well as an analysis of magnetic properties allowed us to suggest possible mechanisms of charge compensation occurring when d metals substitute for manganese. It has been shown that in the case when copper, iron, chromium and titanium ions substitute for manganese ions in the system La_0.7Sr_0.3Mn_1−xMe_xO₃ charge compensation is described by the model 2Mn³⁺ → Mn⁴⁺ + Cu²⁺, Mn³⁺ → Fe³⁺, Mn³⁺ → Cr³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ → Ti⁴⁺, respectively. In the latter case, a decrease in oxygen nonstoichiometry occurs with increasing x.     

Influence of manganese oxide on the liquid-perovskite equilibrium in the CaO–SiO2–TiO2 system at 1400 °C in air

In the Selective Crystallization and Phase Separation (SCPS) process, manganese oxide is used as an additive to promote the precipitation of perovskite. However, the influence of manganese oxide on the liquid domain of the perovskite primary phase field is still unclear. In the present work, the liquid-perovskite equilibrium with the addition of 0–15 wt% Mn₃O₄ was experimentally determined using a high-temperature isothermal equilibration-quenching technique, combined with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). It was confirmed that manganese was mainly existed as Mn²⁺ and Mn³⁺ in the molten phase, whereas titanium existed as Ti⁴⁺. Within the composition range of the present study, the 1400 °C liquid compositions varying from 0 wt% to 15 wt% Mn₃O₄ overlapped significantly, mainly located at w (CaO)/w (SiO₂) ratios between 0.9 and 1.1. The isotherms simulated by FactSage, as well as the data from the literature, generally agreed well with the present experimental results. The calculated 1400 °C isotherms at different Mn₃O₄ levels indicated that perovskite precipitation by manganese oxide was mainly promoted by increasing the Mn₃O₄ concentration to expand the primary phase field of perovskite toward both higher and lower TiO₂ content areas.     

Catalytic Oxidation of CO Gas over Nanocrystallite Cu x Mn1−x Fe2O4

The catalytic oxidation of CO over nanocrystallite Cu _x Mn_(1−x)Fe₂O₄ powders was studied using advanced quadruple mass gas analyzer system. The oxidation of CO to CO₂ was investigated as a function of reactants ratio and firing temperature of ferrite powders. The maximum CO conversion was observed for ferrite powders which have equal amount of Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺ (Cu_0.5Mn_0.5Fe₂O₄). The high catalytic activity of Cu_0.5Mn_0.5Fe₂O₄ can be attributed to the changes of the valence state of catalytically active components of the ferrite powders. The firing temperature plays insignificant role in the catalytic activity of CO over nanocrystallite copper manganese ferrites. The mechanism of catalytic oxidation reactions was studied. It was found that the CO catalytic oxidation reactions on the surface of the Cu _x Mn_1−x Fe₂O₄ was done by the reduction of the ferrite by CO to the oxygen deficient lower oxide then re-oxidation of this phase to the saturated oxygen metal ferrite again.     

A comparative study of the magnetic and microwave properties of Al3+ and In3+ substituted Mg–Mn ferrites

The effect of substitution of diamagnetic Al³⁺ and In³⁺ ions for partial Fe³⁺ ions in a spinel lattice on the magnetic and microwave properties of magnesium–manganese (Mg–Mn) ferrites has been studied. Three kinds of Mg–Mn based ferrites with compositions of Mg_0.9Mn_0.1Fe₂O₄, Mg_0.9Mn_0.1Al_0.1Fe_1.9O₄, and Mg_0.9Mn_0.1In_0.1Fe_1.9O₄ were prepared by the solid-state reaction route. Each mixture of high-purity starting materials (oxide powders) in stoichiometric amounts was calcined at 1100 °C for 4 h, and the debinded green compacts were sintered at 1350 °C for 4 h. XRD examination confirmed that the sintered ferrite samples had a single-phase cubic spinel structure. The incorporation of Al³⁺ or In³⁺ ions in place of Fe³⁺ ions in Mg–Mn ferrites increased the average particle size, decreased the Curie temperature, and resulted in a broader resonance linewidth as compared to un-substituted Mg–Mn ferrites in the X-band. In this study, the In³⁺ substituted Mg–Mn ferrites exhibited the highest saturation magnetization of 35.7 emu/g, the lowest coercivity of 4.1 Oe, and the highest Q×f value of 1050 GHz at a frequency of 6.5 GHz.     

Nonlinear dielectric effect of Fe2O3-doped PMS–PZT piezoelectric ceramics for high-power applications

Piezoelectric ceramics of Pb_0.98Sr_0.02(Mn_1/3Sb_2/3)_0.05Zr_0.48Ti_0.47O₃ with 0.25 wt% CeO₂, 0.50 wt% Yb₂O₃, and x wt% Fe₂O₃ (x = 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2) additives were synthesized using a conventional solid-state reaction. Their piezoelectric properties and, in particular their nonlinear dielectric behaviors were systematically investigated. Iron was mainly present in the form of Fe³⁺ based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; a small amount of the iron was reduced to Fe²⁺. Iron occupied the B-site of the perovskite structure, as shown in the refinement results. The samples displayed both “soft” and “hard” properties because Fe³⁺ can be incorporated at the Mn²⁺, Zr⁴⁺, Ti⁴⁺, and Sb⁵⁺ sites. The domain wall motion was found to be related not only to the type of deficiency but also to the grain size and grain boundary effects based on the nonlinear dielectric behaviors under alternating electric fields. The optimal overall properties of d₃₃ = 360 pC/N, tan δ = 0.295%, Q_m = 1500, k_p = 0.61, ε_r = 1055, α_ε = 4.574*10⁻⁴ m/V, and tan δ = 2.76% (under 500 V/mm) were obtained for samples sintered at 1150 °C(x=0.15).     

Nanocrystalline/nanosized manganese substituted nickel ferrites – Ni1−xMnxFe2O4 obtained by ceramic-mechanical milling route

Manganese substituted nickel ferrites, Ni_1−xMn_xFe₂O₄ (x=0, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7) have been obtained by a combined method, heat treatment and subsequent mechanical milling. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and magnetic measurements. The increase of the Mn²⁺ cations amount into the spinel structure leads to a significant expansion of the cubic spinel structure lattice parameter. The crystallite size decreases with increasing milling time up to 120 min, more rapidly for the nickel–manganese ferrites with a large amount of Mn²⁺ cations (x=0.7). After only 15 min of milling the mean crystallites size is less than 25 nm for all synthesised ferrites. The Néel temperature decreases by increasing Mn²⁺ cation amount from 585 °C for x=0 up to 380 °C for x=0.7. The magnetisation of the ferrite increases by introducing more manganese cations into the spinel structure. The magnetisation of the milled samples decreases by increasing milling time for each ratio among Ni and Mn cations and tends to be difficult to saturate, a behaviour assigned to the spin canted effect.     

Effects of transition metal additives on redox stability and high-temperature electrical conductivity of (Fe,Mg)3O4 spinels

Magnetite-based spinels are considered as promising oxide materials to meet the requirements for ceramic consumable anodes in molten oxide pyroelectrolysis process, a breakthrough low-CO₂ steel technology aimed to overcome the environmental impact of classical extractive metallurgy. The present work focuses on the assessment of phase relationships, redox stability and electrical conductivity of Fe_2.6Me_0.2Mg_0.2O₄ (M = Ni, Cr, Al, Mn, Ti) spinel-type materials at 300–1773 K and p(O₂) from 10⁻⁵ to 0.21 atm. The oxidation state of substituting transition metal cation, affecting the fraction of Fe²⁺ in spinel lattice, was found to be a key factor, which determines the electronic transport and tolerance against oxidative decomposition, while the impact of preferred coordination of additives on these properties was less pronounced. At T > 650 K thermal expansion of Fe_2.6Me_0.2Mg_0.2O₄ ceramics exhibited complex behaviour, and, in highly oxidizing conditions, resulted in significant volume changes, unfavourable for high-temperature electrochemical applications.     

Li+ Extraction from Spinel-Type LiMn2O4 in Different Eluents and Li+ Insertion in the Aqueous Phase

In order to afford a possible way to avoid manganese dissolution during Li⁺ extraction/insertion of spinel-type LiMn₂O₄, the elution properties of HCl, (NH₄)₂S₂O_8, and Na₂S₂O₈ were studied and the adsorption performance of Li⁺-extracted samples was characterized in Li⁺-containing solution. The results showed that Li⁺ was extracted by two different pathways: with manganese loss and without manganese loss. In the Li⁺ extraction process with manganese loss, ionic sieve was obtained after extracting Li⁺ from its precursor LiMn₂O₄, with accompanying partial transformation of Mn³⁺ to Mn⁴⁺ and Mn²⁺ by disproportionation reaction. This change caused the destruction of the framework and weight loss of ionic sieve due to the dissolution of Mn²⁺ in the solution. In the Li⁺ extraction process without manganese loss, Li⁺ was extracted with the reaction that part of Mn³⁺ was oxidized to Mn⁴⁺ by S₂O₈^2-. The Li⁺-extracted sample contained a small number of H⁺ which should exchange Li⁺ during this type of elution. The two Li⁺ extraction pathways also indicated that Li⁺ could not be completely eluted from the ionic sieve precursor. The uptake of Li⁺ on the ionic sieve was incomplete.     

Rapid response in recovery time,humidity sensing behavior and magnetic properties of rare earth(Dy & Ho) doped Mn–Zn ceramics

In the present world, the development of room temperature humidity sensor materials has always been a very popular research field. Rare earth (RE) doped ferrites are considered as potential resistive humidity sensing material owing to its high remarkable surface morphology with high porosity. Recent studies have shown that ferrite ceramics have good response in recovery time and have excellent humidity sensing behavior. With this in mind, solution combustion synthesis was used to effectively prepare RE dysprosium (Dy³⁺) and holmium (Ho³⁺) doped Mn–Zn ferrite ceramics with the chemical formula Mn_0·5Zn_0.5Dy_xHo_yFe_2-xO4 (x = 0.005 to 0.03) (MZDHF) (where x, y = 0.0, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025 and 0.03). The MZDHF XRD pattern revealed the purity of the samples without any secondary phase. The crystallite size MZDHF is in the nano range. Further, the calculated lattice parameter of MZDHF is found to be increasing with the RE content. The two prominent major absorption bands related to A-site and B-site were confirmed by FTIR spectra. The hysteresis loops of MZDHF are used to investigate the differences in magnetic properties with an Dy³⁺-Ho³⁺ concentration. The remanence magnetization, saturation magnetization, coercivity and anisotropy of the ferrites were determined. The saturation magnetization decreases with increase of Dy³⁺-Ho³⁺ concentration. The change in the surface resistance for all the samples was studied. Among all the samples, Mn_0·5Zn_0.5Dy_0.03Ho_0.03Fe_1·96O₄ composite has shown a drastic variation in resistance. And the corresponding sensing response for the same sample is found to be 99%. Along with this, the sample has shown a least hysteresis and good stability. Also, the Mn_0·5Zn_0.5Dy_0.03Ho_0.03Fe_1·96O₄ composite has shown a good timing behavior of 90 s and 18 s. The sensing mechanism for the prepared Mn_0·5Zn_0.5Dy_0.03Ho_0.03Fe_1·96O₄ composite was thoroughly discussed.     

Iron/manganese oxide catalysts for fischer-tropsch synthesis: Part I: structural and textural changes by calcination,reduction and synthesis

Structural changes of coprecipitated Fe/Mn-oxide catalysts during calcination, reduction and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis were investigated. After calcination at 500° C, the catalyst mass consisted of cubic Mn₂O₃ and α-Fe₂O₃ phases. Below 400°C Mn₂O₃ was formed as a tetragonal lattice and an α-Fe₂O₃ phase remained in a poorly crystalline state. The lattice parameter values indicated that both Mn₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ phases had incorporated Fe³⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions, respectively, in their lattice and formed mixed lattices. However, X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that most of the iron oxide was present within the Mn₂O₃ lattice. Mn₂-_xFe_xO₃ was reduced by hydrogen to MnO and elemental iron through the formation of MnFe₂O₄ and FeO as intermediate phases. Fe₂-yMnyO₃ (y < 0.1) reduced to metallic iron via Fe₃-_yMn_yO₄.Under conditions of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis the elemental iron of the catalytic mass was mostly transformed into MnFe₂O₄ and partly into Fe₅C₂ phase. Only minor amounts of elemental iron existed during FT synthesis. The amount of carbide phase in the used catalyst depended on the pretreatment process. Under the synthesis conditions presently used, formation of a spinel phase appeared to be more favourable, as compared to carburization.Transformation of tetragonal Mn₂O₃ into cubic Mn₂O₃ above 400°C during calcination seemed to improve the textural stability of the mixed oxides system. The presence of manganese oxide prevented the degradation of textural properties, both during reduction and synthesis.     

The Cobalt Zinc Spinel Ferrite Nanofiber: Lightweight and Efficient Microwave Absorber

To solve the heavy mass problem of the traditional spinel ferrite using as the microwave absorber, the Co_xZn_(1?x)Fe₂O₄ (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) ferrite nanofibres were synthesized by electrospinning method. The phase composition, morphology, and electromagnetic properties were analyzed. The results showed that all the as‐prepared Co_xZn_(1?x)Fe₂O₄ ferrites exhibited the homogeneous nanofibrous shape. The saturation magnetization and coercivity were enhanced by tuning the Co²⁺ content. The electromagnetic loss analysis indicated that the Co_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ ferrite nanofiber performed the strongest microwave attenuation ability. The microwave absorbing coating containing 15 wt% of Co_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ ferrite nanofiber showed the reflection loss less than ?10 dB in the whole X‐band and 80% of the Ku‐band frequencies. Meanwhile, the surface density was only 2.4 Kg/m².     

Effect of manganese stoichiometry at B-site on magneto-transport and magnetic properties of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3manganites

To study the effect of manganese non-stoichiometry at B-site, a series of manganites with compositional formula La_0.67Sr_0.33Mn_1±xO₃ (where x = 0, 0.05 and 0.1) was synthesized by oxalate precursor method. X-ray diffraction data confirm the rhombohedral structure of La_0.67Sr_0.33Mn_1±xO₃ along with minor phases of Mn₃O₄. The average grain size is found to be 266 nm for x = 0 whereas its magnitude decreases with excess or deficiency in manganese concentration. An increase in the manganese non-stoichiometry leads to the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. The effect of Mn_1±x on the magnetotransport properties could be understood on the basis of collective behaviour of magnetic spins, double exchange mechanism and ratio of Mn⁴⁺/Mn³⁺ ions. A crossover from negative to positive magnetoresistance behavior above metal-insulator transition temperature was observed for LSP-0.95 sample, whereas a positive magnetoresistance over the entire temperature region was noticed for LSP-1.10 sample.     

Structural,magnetic and electrical properties along with antifungal activity & adsorption ability of cobalt doped manganese ferrite nanoparticles synthesized using combustion route

Ultrafine powders of Cobalt doped manganese ferrite with elemental composition Mn_1-xCo_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were synthesized using combustion method. The formation of the pure cubic spinel phase of ferrite structure was confirmed using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Structural parameters such as lattice constant, X-ray density, mass density, porosity, and cell volume were seen to be greatly influenced by cobalt doping. The surface morphology of the nanocrystalline samples was studied using a scanning electron microscope. The particle size distribution was determined using a Transmission electron microscope and nanograins of the samples were found to have dimensions in the range 15 nm–30 nm. It also showed its dependence on the extent of cobalt inclusion. Variation of magnetization and magnetic moment as a function of magnetic field and temperature was investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The parameters such as saturation magnetization ‘M_S’ and inversion temperature T_I were seen to depend upon Co⁺² concentration. The variation dielectric constant ‘Ԑ’ as a function of frequency was studied. Antifungal activity of these ferrite nanoparticles against Rhizopus fungi was also investigated at room temperature. The antifungal activity was seen to increase with increasing Co⁺² content in the manganese ferrite structure and hence cobalt doped manganese ferrites are proposed as a candidate material for industries manufacturing antifungal products. The adsorption studies were also investigated using Methylene dye as the adsorbate.     

New members in the [Mn10] supertetrahedron family

Two manganese complexes, [Mn^II₄Mn^III₆Cl₄(CH₃OCH₂CH₂O)₁₂ O₄][Mn^II₃Ti^IVCl₆(CH₃OCH₂CH₂O)₆] (1) and [Mn^II₄Mn^III₆Cl₄(CH₃OCH₂CH₂O)₁₂O₄] [Mn₄^II Cl₁₀(CH₃OCH₂CH₂OH)₄]∙0.5CH₃OCH₂CH₂OH, (2) have been obtained and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both structures consist of the decametallic dicationic [Mn^II₄Mn^III₆Cl₄(CH₃OCH₂CH₂O)₁₂O₄]^2 + core constructed by four vertex-sharing [Mn^III₃Mn^IIO]^9 + tetrahedra. Also, these compounds contain the different tetrametallic dianions: [Mn^II₃Ti^IVCl₆(CH₃OCH₂CH₂O)₆]^2 − (in complex 1) and [Mn₄^IICl₁₀(CH₃OCH₂CH₂OH)₄]^2 − (in complex 2). Magnetic dc and ac susceptibility measurements for compound (1) show that the dicationic decanuclear magnetic cluster possesses an S = 12 ± 1 spin ground-state.     

Manganese crystalline phases developed in high lead glazes during firing

A High Temperature Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Powder Diffraction experiment was performed to determine the manganese compounds formed during the heating and cooling of 70 wt% PbO – 30 wt% SiO2 mixture or the equivalent glass plus 10 wt% of MnO. The effect of adding calcite, dolomite and kaolinite were also studied. All mixtures were fired between 690 °C and 1020 °C in oxidizing conditions and analysed by Scanning Electron Microscopy.A sequence of manganese phases are formed during firing: bixbyite (Mn₂O₃), barysilite ((Pb_,Mn)Si₂O₇), kentrolite (Pb₂Mn₂Si₂O₉) and braunite (Mn₇SiO₁₂). Kentrolite and braunite crystallise with different crystal habits during the heating and the cooling. If dolomite is present diopside ((Ca,Mg,Mn)₂Si₂O₆) is formed. If calcite is present, ganomalite (Pb₃(CaMn)₂Si₃O₁₁), margarosanite (Pb(Ca,Mn)₂Si₃O₉) and wollastonite ((Ca,Mn)SiO₃) are also formed. Wollastonite can incorporate enough manganese to transform into bustamite ((Mn,Ca)₃Si₃O₉) at high temperatures. This leaves less manganese available for the crystallisation of kentrolite and braunite.     

Enhanced Room Temperature Multiferroic Properties of (Bi0.95La0.05)(Fe0.97Mn0.03)O3/CoFe2O4 and CoFe2O4/(Bi0.95La0.05)(Fe0.97Mn0.03)O3 Double‐Layered Thin Films

Multiferroic (Bi_0.95La_0.05)(Fe_0.97Mn_0.03)O₃/CoFe₂O₄ and CoFe₂O₄/(Bi_0.95La_0.05)(Fe_0.97Mn_0.03)O₃ double‐layered thin films were prepared on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si(100) substrates via a chemical solution deposition method. In both the thin films, superior multiferroic properties were observed at room temperature. However, substantial enhancements in magnetic properties, such as saturated ferromagnetic hysteresis loop with large 2M_r (68.8 emu/cm³) and 2H_c (11.7 kOe), as well as moderate ferroelectric properties, such as 2P_r (58 μC/cm²) with low leakage current density (4 × 10^?9 A/cm² at 100 kV/cm), were observed in the (Bi_0.95La_0.05)(Fe_0.97Mn_0.03)O₃/CoFe₂O₄ at room temperature. Structural distortion, deformation of [(Fe, Mn)O₆] oxygen octahedra, and superexchange interaction in the (Bi_0.95La_0.05)(Fe_0.97Mn_0.03)O₃ are attributed to the enhanced properties.     

Structural,morphological and optomagnetic properties of GO/Nd/Cu-Mn ferrite ternary nanocomposite

Graphene oxide (GO)/neodymium (Nd)/Cu_0·5Mn_0·5Fe₂O₄ ternary nanocomposite was prepared by sonochemical method and modified Hummer's method. The crystal structure and structural parameter of Cu_0·5Mn_0·5Fe₂O₄ (CMF) nanoferrites were changed with the addition of Nd³⁺ and GO. Raman active modes of the GO and ferrite system were observed from Raman spectra. The surface oxidation state (C 1s, O 1s, Cu 2p, Mn 2p, Fe 2p, and Nd 3 d) and their respective binding energies of the prepared nanocomposite were discussed. Different surface morphologies were acquired for CMF, Cu_0·5Mn_0·5Fe_1.85Nd_0.15O₄ (CMNF), GO, and GO/Cu_0·5Mn_0·5Fe_1.85Nd_0.15O₄ (GCMNF) ferrite nanocomposites. The absorption of the Cu-Mn nanoferrite (red region) shifted into the blue region with the addition of Nd³⁺ and GO. The magnetic parameters were changed with doping of Nd into CMF and GO in CMNF nanoferrite. It was found that the high anisotropy energy values of the CMNF and GCMNF ferrite nanocomposites could be used for electromagnetic wave-absorbing application.     

Mechanosynthesis of hydroxyapatite–ferrite composite nanopowder

In the present work, an investigation of the mechanosynthesis of calcium hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) from a mixture of calcium oxide (СаО) and ammonium hydrophosphate ((NH₄)₂HPO₄) and mechanotreatment of HA in a planetary mill with the use of steel drums and milling body has been performed. The obtained results have shown that the mechanosynthesis of crystalline nanodisperse HA proceeds through the stage of formation of an amorphous material. The temperature treatment of HA powders at 1000 °C has enabled us to establish the influence of the treatment time on the phase composition of the powders and establish the following sequence of phase transformations: Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂→β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ (t_milling~2 h), β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂→α-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ (t_milling~5 h), β-,α-Ca₃(PO₄)₂→Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ (t_milling~7 h).The mechanosynthesis and mechanotreatment of hydroxyapatite in steel drums with steel balls is accompanied by the contamination of hydroxyapatite by their wear debris (iron + manganese). A large part of oxidized iron forms superparamagnetic inclusions distributed in HA powder. A small part of Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions from the steel wear debris enters into the hydroxyapatite lattice, substituting Ca²⁺ ions. As a result, a nanocomposite powder consisting of hydroxyapatite, alloyed by Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions and ferrite inclusions forms. The phase composition of HA powders, the degree of their alloying by Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions, and the content of ferrite inclusions can be controlled by changing the time of mechanotreatment.     

Structural,magnetic, and electrical evaluations of rare earth Gd3+ doped in mixed Co–Mn spinel ferrite nanoparticles

The controlled and stable crystal structure, reduction in Curie temperature and semiconducting nature of oxide materials are the key factors for magnetoelectrical applications. Therefore, Co_0.6Mn_0.4Gd_xFe_2-xO₄ where x = 0, 0.033, 0.066 and 0.10 were synthesized to analyse the structural, morphological, magnetic, and electrical properties using a sol-gel autocombustion approach. The X-ray diffraction pattern reveals that the cubic crystallite size decreases with increasing smaller content of Gd³⁺ oxides without any secondary phase. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) study explain the complete morphology, agglomeration and dense structure of rare earth-doped Gd oxide in the mixed Co–Mn spinel ferrite nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirms the formation of a spinel structure with absorption bands below 1000 cm^?1. The magnetic analysis shows that the saturation magnetization (59.20 emu/g - 49.71 emu/g) and coercivity (985.21 Oe – 254.11 Oe) of the synthesized samples decreased with increasing content of Gd³⁺ ions. The increase in DC conductivity with increasing temperature verifies the semiconducting nature of the synthesized samples, and a higher DC conductivity of the Co_0.6Mn_0.4Gd_0.10Fe_1.90O₄(CMGF3) samples was observed at approximately 0.0362 S/cm at 973 K temperature.     

Correlation between microstructure parameters and anti-cancer activity of the [Mn0.5Zn0.5](EuxNdxFe2-2x)O4 nanoferrites produced by modified sol-gel and ultrasonic methods

[Mn_0.5Zn_0.5](Eu_xNd_xFe_2-2x)O₄ ferrite nanoparticles (FNP) were obtained by ultrasonic (USM) and sol-gel (SGM) methods. It was observed that SGM allows us to produce nanoparticles with the average crystal size of 10–40 nm and the specific surface area of 5–7.5 × 10⁴ m²/g with a strong correlation between the chemical composition (x) and the crystal size distribution. At the same time using USM, we obtained nanoparticles with the average crystal size of 3–15 nm and the specific surface area of 1.5–1.7 × 10⁵ m²/g without a strong correlation between Eu/Nd concentration and the crystal size distribution. The specific surface area and average crystal size are the main factors determining the antiproliferative activity of FNP. The anti-cancer activity of FNP was investigated both on cancerous cells, human adenocarcinoma cells and human colorectal carcinoma cells. It was established that samples obtained using USM were more effective in producing cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Thus, we confirm a strong correlation between the main microstructure parameters for [Mn_0.5Zn_0.5](Eu_xNd_xFe_2-2x)O₄ ferrite nanoparticles.