Nanostructured ZnFe₂O₄: An Exotic Energy Material

More people, more cities; the energy demand increases in consequence and much of that will rely on next-generation smart materials. Zn-ferrites (ZnFe₂O₄) are nonconventional ceramic materials on account of their unique properties, such as chemical and thermal stability and the reduced toxicity of Zn over other metals. Furthermore, the remarkable cation inversion behavior in nanostructured ZnFe₂O₄ extensively cast-off in the high-density magnetic data storage, 5G mobile communication, energy storage devices like Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and water splitting for hydrogen production, among others. Here, we review how aforesaid properties can be easily tuned in various ZnFe₂O₄ nanostructures depending on the choice, amount, and oxidation state of metal ions, the specific features of cation arrangement in the crystal lattice and the processing route used for the fabrication.