A new hybrid non-aqueous approach for the development of Co doped Ni-Zn ferrite nanoparticles for practical applications: Cation distribution, magnetic and antibacterial studies

[Display omitted] •Successfully developed Ni0.6-xZn0.4CoxFe2O4 (x = 0, 0.033, 0.066, 0.132, 0.264 and 0.528) nanoferrites via a novel hybrid non-aqueous approach.•The produced nanoparticles have spinel cubic phase at various cobalt concentrations, x = 0.033, 0.066 and 0.528.•M6 specimen attained the highest maximum saturation magnetization and coercivity of 37.09 emu/g and 108.85 Oe.•Cation distributions validates our theoretical and experimental investigations to a great extent.•M2 and M6 sample shows high ZOI against both Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Ni-Zn spinel nanoferrite with a composition Ni0.6-xZn0.4CoxFe2O4 (x = 0.00, 0.033, 0.066, 0.132, 0.264 and 0.528) was produced at a low reaction temperature using a novel hybrid direct non-aqueous approach that eliminates the need for a complexing agent and a precursor that adjusts pH. The developed Ni0.567Zn0.4Co0.033Fe2O4 (x = 0.033), Ni0.534Zn0.4Co0.066Fe2O4 (x = 0.066) and Ni0.072Zn0.4Co0.528Fe2O4 (x = 0.528) nanoferrites attains the single-phase spinel cubic nano symmetry with a crystallite size of 54.91, 47.55, and 48.98 nm, respectively. Spherical shaped nanoparticles with aggregated behaviour were confirmed for the produced nanoferrites. XPS spectra of Ni0.072Zn0.4Co0.528Fe2O4 nanoferrite confirms the detection of major photoemission peaks of Zn2p, Ni2p, Co2p, Fe2p, O1s, and C1s. According to the BET research investigation, Ni0.072Zn0.4Co0.528Fe2O4 nanoferrite having specific surface area of 2.309 m2/g. The highest saturation magnetization and coercivity of 37.09 emu/g and 108.85 Oe was attained at higher doping content of cobalt (x = 0.528). With this nano crystalline nature and excellent magnetic factors, the developed nanoferrites are highly beneficial for the recording media applications to get the suitable signal to noise ratio and also, for multi-layer chip inductors (MLCIs). From the antibacterial investigation, it was observed that the produced Co doped Ni-Zn ferrites (x = 0.033, 0.264) shows high zone of inhibition (ZOI) for E. coli and Bacillus subtilis but the rest of the samples (x = 0.0, 0.066, 0.132, 0.528) shows no ZOI for both the bacterial strains. Therefore, the prepared Co doped Ni-Zn nanoferrites also works as superior antibacterial agent for biological application.