Catalytic properties of Thuja occidentalis green synthesized Yb doped MgFe2O4, CuFe2O4 and MgCuFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles

The study explored the preparation of plant extract from Thuja occidentalis and the green synthesis of Ytterbium (Yb) doped ferrite nanoparticles, including MgFe₂O₄, CuFe₂O₄ and MgCuFe₂O₄. The plant extract was prepared by boiling fresh Thuja occidentalis leaves in distilled water and subsequently filtering the solution. The extract, abundant in phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids, served as both a reducing and stabilizing agent in the precipitation-based synthesis of Yb doped ferrite nanoparticles. The molar ratios of the metals were maintained to achieve desired doping levels and NaOH was added to induce precipitation, which was then calcined to produce ferrite nanoparticles. The photocatalytic and antioxidant activities of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated using methylene blue (MB) dye degradation under visible light and DPPH radical scavenging assays, respectively. Characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, XPS, SEM-EDS, TEM and VSM spectroscopy, confirmed the successful synthesis, structural integrity, functional and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles. The results revealed that Yb doped CuFe₂O₄ ferrites exhibited superior photocatalytic and antioxidant activities compared to the other ferrite nanoparticles, making them promising candidates for environmental and health-related applications.