Enhanced multifunctional properties of lanthanum-doped barium ferrite nanoparticles synthesized via sol-gel assisted hydrothermal method

Lanthanum -doped Barium Ferrite (BaFe2-xLaxO4, x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using a novel sol-gel assisted hydrothermal hybrid method. Extensive characterization techniques (XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and Raman) confirmed the incorporation of Lanthanum ions into the BaFe2O4 crystal lattice, resulting in uniform crystallites of approximately 20 nm in size, enhanced ionic bonding, and improved surface morphology. Notably, La3+ substitution, particularly at x = 0.7, significantly reduced the band gap to 1.32 eV, unlocking the potential for multifunctional applications of BaFe2O4 nanoferrites. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanometric charge/discharge studies revealed significantly enhanced electrochemical activity for the x = 0.7 La3+-doped sample compared to pure BaFe2O4. Furthermore, in photocatalytic experiments, 60 mg of BaFe1.5La0.5O4 nanoparticles achieved an impressive 98.9 % degradation of Acid Orange -88 dye under UV light irradiation within 90 min. These findings highlight the promising potential of La3+-doped BaFe2O4 nanoferrites for multifunctional applications in both energy storage and photocatalytic dye degradation.