Multifunctional Mg_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ Spinel Nanoferrite: Structural, Magnetic, Dielectric, Antimicrobial, and Plant Tissue Cultural Properties

Abstract A soft magnetic Mg0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 (MZF) and PVA-coated Mg0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 spinel nanoferrite synthesized via Microwave-assisted Sol-gel Autocombustion Method. The structural parameters such as crystallite size (31 nm-35 nm), and lattice dimension (8.3769 A°-8.3831 A°) were found to be affected by induced lattice strain (3.581x10-3- 3.584 x10-3) due to dislocations (0.99 x10-3 1/nm2- 0.80 x10-3 1/nm2) of the prepared samples. . The FESEM analysis revealed that the nanoparticles exhibit a spherical shape and display slight agglomeration. The magnetic parameters recorded from VSM report coercivity (77.29 Oe-81.66Oe), Magnetic saturation (28.16 emu/g -33.99 emu/g), retentivity (2.58 emu/g-3.50emu/g), and squareness ratio (0.09 -0.1) signifies soft magnetic pseudo single domain nature of the prepared spinel nanoferrites. Furthermore, the prepared material was used to investigate the antimicrobial effects of Mg0.6 Zn0.4Fe2O4 . The sample was tested against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using an agar diffusion test, and the absence of microbial growth indicated the ability to inhibit growth. The synthesized Mg0.6 Zn0.4Fe2O4 nanoferrite was also tested against the plant Vigna Radiata , and it was observed that the growth of cultured plants treated with the nanoferrite was more than untreated plants.