Elucidating the effect of different divalent metals (Mn, Co, Cu, and Zn) on optical, photocatalytic degradation, reusability and ionizing radiation attenuation properties of lanthanum ferrite nanoparticles

Ferrite nanoparticles are promising materials in various fields due to their unique magnetic and chemical stability, remarkable utilization in photocatalytic degradation, and ionizing radiation attenuation properties. So, in the present work, M_0.45La_0.1Fe_1.45O₄ (M = Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co) ferrite nanoparticles (MLF nanoparticles) have been explored as a means for improving optical, photocatalytic degradation, reusability, and ionizing radiation attenuation properties. The obtained optical band gaps are 2.44 ± 0.01 eV, 2.20 ± 0.01 eV, 1.93 ± 0.01 eV and 1.70 ± 0.01 eV for the CuLF, ZnLF, CoLF, and MnLF, respectively. The optical band gaps of all the MLF nanoparticles lie within the visible range, indicating their potential as photocatalysts under visible light. The MnLF nanoferrite shows the best degrading efficiency at 97.29 % for methylene blue dye with outstanding stability and enhanced recyclability. In addition, according to the gamma-ray attenuation characteristics of the MLF nanoparticles, the sample ZnLF shows a promising ability for radiation attenuation due to its higher mass attenuation coefficient in comparison with the mass attenuation coefficient of the other MLF nanoparticles. Also, the ZnLF sample has the highest effective atomic number, and this is due to the high atomic number of Zn element in comparison with the other MLF nanoparticles.