Electronic, magnetic and optical properties of CoNi spinel ferrites doped by rare earth atoms: a density functional theory study

Abstract Density Functional Theory is employed to investigate how specific rare earth (RE) dopants (Pr, Y, Dy) affect the electronic, magnetic, and optical characteristics of Co 0.5 Ni 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 (CN) spinel ferrites. The impact of RE atoms, which replace Fe ions in the supercell, is elucidated by analyzing the spin-resolved density of states, magnetic moment, and optical parameters. The findings demonstrate that both single and collective RE doping play a vital role in manipulating the key properties of these materials. Notably, we reveal that incorporating RE dopants into CN structures leads to a reduction in the energy band gap. Additionally, this work underscores substantial spin-dependent behavior and provides valuable insights into optical properties, suggesting that RE-doped CNs hold significant potential in the fields of spintronics and optoelectronics.