Synthesis and Properties of Hexagonal Ferrites for Photocatalytic Applications

Abstract

Ferrite nanomaterials — encompassing spinel ferrites (MFe₂O₄), MnZn soft ferrites, and M-type hexaferrites (AFe₁₂O₁₉; A = Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺) — have emerged as multifunctional materials with transformative potential in electronics, biomedicine, energy storage, and defense technologies. This review synthesizes cutting-edge insights from 2020– 2025 literature to present a unified perspective on structure–property relationships, synthesis innovation, and doping-driven optimization. Spinel ferrites excel in biomedical versatility through tunable cation distribution, enabling hyperthermia therapy, MRI contrast enhancement, and targeted drug delivery. MnZn ferrites dominate low-frequency power electronics (<2 MHz) with high permeability (μᵢ > 3000) and Nb₂O₅/Ce³⁺ doping reducing power losses by 40–60% at 100 kHz. M-type hexaferrites exhibit exceptional magnetocrystalline anisotropy (K₁ > 3 × 10⁵ J/m³) and microwave absorption (RL < −50 dB at 12 GHz), critical for 5G/6G EMI shielding and stealth technology. Future directions emphasize sustainable synthesis, multiferroic hexaferrites for magnetoelectric coupling, and integration into 6G communication, spintronics, and quantum computing.