{
  "abstract": "Developing highly efficient, magnetically recoverable photocatalysts for sustainable wastewater treatment remains a major challenge in environmental remediation. In this work, Nd3+-substituted Mg0.5Co0.2Zn0.3NdxFe2−xO4 (x = 0.00–0.08) spinel nanoferrites were synthesized via the sol–gel citrate combustion method to investigate the influence of rare-earth incorporation on their structural, magnetic, optical, and photocatalytic properties. X-ray diffraction confirmed a single-phase cubic spinel structure with no detectable secondary phases, while Williamson–Hall analysis revealed crystallite sizes ranging from 30.74 to 36.78 nm depending on Nd3+ concentration. Vibrating sample magnetometry demonstrated composition-dependent soft magnetic behavior, with the x = 0.06 composition exhibiting the lowest coercivity (92.43 Oe), attractive for low-loss high-frequency applications, while the saturation magnetization decreased from 54.65 to 42.63 emu/g with increasing Nd3+ content, remaining sufficiently high for facile magnetic separation and reuse of the catalyst. Optical characterization revealed a non-monotonic variation in the optical band gap with Nd3+ content (1.68–1.87 eV), with the lowest value (1.68 eV) for x = 0.08, which is attributed to Nd3+-induced lattice distortion and defect states. These electronic structure modifications markedly improved the photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue (MB) decolorization, with the Mg0.5Co0.2Zn0.3Nd0.08Fe1.92O4 nanoferrite achieving 98.40% decolorization within 60 min under visible-light irradiation. Radical-scavenging experiments identified photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide radicals ( ) as the dominant reactive species governing the decolorization process, while recycling tests demonstrated excellent stability, retaining 96.43% of its initial activity after five consecutive cycles. The outstanding photocatalytic efficiency, excellent recyclability, low coercivity, and intrinsic magnetic recoverability demonstrate that Nd3+-engineered Mg–Co–Zn nanoferrites are promising multifunctional nanostructured materials for visible-light-driven photocatalysis and magnetically assisted environmental remediation. Their tunable structural, optical, magnetic, and surface properties highlight the potential of rare-earth-engineered ferrite nanomaterials as versatile platforms for sustainable catalytic technologies and emerging energy-related applications.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "General Studies Department, Jubail Industrial College, Jubail Industrial City, 31961 Saudi Arabia"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "N. S. Al-Bassami"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fw9hk0rjjycsb.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/catal16110976",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fw9hk0rjjycsb",
  "issns": [
    "2073-4344"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/16/11/976",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-31",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fw9hk0rjjycsb.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T00:20:53Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/catal16110976",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/16/11/976"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "issn:2073-4344",
      "subfield": "catalysis"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Nd3+-Induced Modulation of the Structural, Morphological, Magnetic, Optical, and Photocatalytic Activity of Mg–Co–Zn Ferrite Nanoparticles",
  "title_text": "Nd3+-Induced Modulation of the Structural, Morphological, Magnetic, Optical, and Photocatalytic Activity of Mg–Co–Zn Ferrite Nanoparticles",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T00:21:09Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fw9hk0rjjycsb",
  "venue": "Catalysts",
  "versions": []
}