Assessment of the catalytic and biological potential of yttrium and samarium-modified copper ferrite nanomaterials

The present study reports the preparation of crystalline and nanosized copper ferrite (CuFe₂O₄)_, Y³⁺ substituted CuFe₂O₄ (CuFe_1.95Y_0.05O₄), and Sm³⁺ substituted CuFe₂O₄ (CuFe_1.95Sm_0.05O₄) using a simple co-precipitation method. The XRD analysis confirmed the formation of the cubic spinel phase, while XPS studies validated the presence of Cu and Fe in 2+ and 3+ oxidation states respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed the nanoparticles with a diameter in the range of 10-60 nm. The introduction of fractional amounts of Y³⁺ and Sm³⁺ ions in the CuFe₂O₄ lattice enhanced the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, attributed to decreased particle size facilitating the reduction process. In the case of antimicrobial activity, Candida albican was found to be maximally sensitive to CuFe₂O₄ and CuFe_1.95Y_0.05O₄, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was inhibited by CuFe_1.95Sm₀.₀₅O_4. Moreover, a maximum of 61.9 ± 1.91 % anti-Pseudomonas biofilm activity and 75.7 ± 1.28 % DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed for CuFe_1.95Y_0.05O₄ at 200 μg/ml concentration. The improvement in biological activities was attributed to the reduced particle size, crystal structure modification, and increased stability of the CuFe₂O₄ lattice with substitution. The enhancement in catalytic and biological performance highlighted the effectiveness of minimal Y³⁺ and Sm³⁺ concentrations in modulating the properties of CuFe₂O₄ nanomaterials.