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<p>Erbium (Er³⁺)-doped zinc spinel ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe₂O₄), (ZnFe₂₋ₓErₓO₄; x = 0.00–0.10) were synthesised using a sol–gel auto-combustion method to study the effect of Er substitution on structural properties and antimicrobial potential. X- ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed a cubic spinel structure (Fd-3&#xa0;m). Increasing Er³⁺ content slightly increased the lattice parameter (8.4445–8.4575 Å) and reduced the crystallite size from 44.86 to 16.74&#xa0;nm, indicating lattice strain. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified metal–oxygen vibrations at tetrahedral and octahedral sites, while Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed nearly spherical nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesised nanoparticles was evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>), Gram-negative bacteria (<i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>), and fungal strains (<i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus niger</i>). The Er-doped nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to the undoped sample, with the maximum zone of inhibition reaching 20&#xa0;mm against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and 14&#xa0;mm against <i>Aspergillus niger</i>. The improved antimicrobial efficacy is attributed to reduced particle size, increased surface activity, and Er-induced structural modifications. These findings demonstrate that Er³⁺ substitution effectively tailors the physicochemical properties of ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and significantly enhances their antimicrobial performance, highlighting their potential as promising nanomaterials for advanced biomedical and antimicrobial applications.</p>

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Investigation of Erbium-Doped Zinc Spinel Ferrite Nanoparticles for Enhanced Structural and Antimicrobial Functionality

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月20日

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  • Puja U. Tasalwar,
  • Aarti N. Wazalwar

摘要

Erbium (Er³⁺)-doped zinc spinel ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe₂O₄), (ZnFe₂₋ₓErₓO₄; x = 0.00–0.10) were synthesised using a sol–gel auto-combustion method to study the effect of Er substitution on structural properties and antimicrobial potential. X- ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed a cubic spinel structure (Fd-3 m). Increasing Er³⁺ content slightly increased the lattice parameter (8.4445–8.4575 Å) and reduced the crystallite size from 44.86 to 16.74 nm, indicating lattice strain. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified metal–oxygen vibrations at tetrahedral and octahedral sites, while Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed nearly spherical nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesised nanoparticles was evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae), and fungal strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger). The Er-doped nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to the undoped sample, with the maximum zone of inhibition reaching 20 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 14 mm against Aspergillus niger. The improved antimicrobial efficacy is attributed to reduced particle size, increased surface activity, and Er-induced structural modifications. These findings demonstrate that Er³⁺ substitution effectively tailors the physicochemical properties of ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and significantly enhances their antimicrobial performance, highlighting their potential as promising nanomaterials for advanced biomedical and antimicrobial applications.