Effect of heavy Dy3+ doping on the magnetic, structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of CuDyxFe2-xO4 nanoparticles

The present study explored the impacts of dysprosium (Dy³⁺) doping on the structure, optical, and magnetic characteristics of CuDyxFe2-xO4 nanospinel ferrites synthesized via a hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction revealed a tetragonal spinel matrix with increasing Dy³⁺ content, accompanied by a secondary Dy2O3 phase at higher dopant levels for x ≥ 0.1. Crystallite size and microstrain increased with doping, while infrared spectroscopy confirmed the spinel structure and distinct vibrational modes. Interestingly, saturation magnetization displayed a non-monotonic trend, first rising due to spin polarization and cation redistribution, then decreasing with higher Dy³⁺ content attributable to the Dy2O3 phase and larger grains. Coercivity exhibited a maximum at x = 0.2, reflecting the interplay between magnetocrystalline anisotropy, canting angles, and domain wall pinning. These findings highlight the complex …