Rare-earth doped strontium hexaferrite nanocomposites for enhanced electromagnetic shielding and heavy metal remediation

Abstract

The textile and dyeing industries contribute significantly to environmental pollution through wastewater containing hazardous heavy metals, resulting in around 1.7 million deaths annually. Effective treatment methods are urgently needed. This study explores samarium (Sm) and dysprosium (Dy) doped M-type strontium hexaferrites (M-SrHFs), which improve lead adsorption due to their high surface reactivity and ion-exchange capacity. Additionally, these materials exhibit tunable electromagnetic properties, making them suitable for low-frequency attenuation or signal-conditioning applications. Dy-doped samples show optimal EMI performance at 20 MHz (RL ≈ − 0.15 dB), while co-doped variants exhibit strong absorption at 3–4 MHz with large skin depths, ideal for low-frequency industrial applications. The dual functionality of these doped M-SrHFs—effective heavy metal removal and low-frequency attenuation—highlights their potential as sustainable, multifunctional materials for environmental and electronic industry applications. This research bridges materials science and environmental engineering, offering an integrated solution for pollution control and electromagnetic compatibility.