Maira Younas, Majid Niaz Akhtar
Microwave materials with exceptional absorption capabilities and low cost are crucial for addressing electromagnetic interference (EMI) challenges in 6G EM shielding. In this work, La-Nd co-doped garnet nanoparticles with a composition of Y3-xLaxFe5-yNdyO12, in the range of (0.0≤x ≤ 0.075), were prepared using the sol-gel auto combustion process. XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, VSM, and VNA were employed to analyze the synthesized La-Nd co-doped YIG-based garnet nanoferrites. XRD validates the cubic phase crystal structure of La-Nd co-doped YIG-based garnet nanoferrites. The FTIR spectra illustrate the ferrite phase, while the force constant and molecular bond lengths diminished with increasing La-Nd concentration in the YIG garnet structure. The optical band gap (Eg) values range from 2.95 eV to 1.87 eV as the La-Nd concentration rises in the YIG garnets. Magnetic analysis indicates that the Ms value initially decreases before subsequently increasing with increasing doping concentration, while coercivity exhibits an upward trend. As frequency increases, the dielectric constant also increases. Dielectric losses increase between 1 and 3.5 GHz, then diminish between 3.5 and 5.5 GHz. Doping at x = 0.075 led to reduced losses. The return loss of −37.6 dB at 1.5 GHz for x = 0.00 is noted. An EAB of 0.6 GHz and an RL of −60 dB are observed at x = 0.025. Correspondingly, at x = 0.075 and x = 0.05, reflection loss values of −53 dB and −44 dB are reported at 1.5 GHz and 1.33 GHz, respectively. Cole-Cole plots illustrate the disparity between the grain and grain-boundary contributions to complex and real permittivity. The design and simulation of the meta-absorbers have been completed. La- and Nd-doped samples exhibited TE-mode amplification with increasing frequency across varying concentrations. As the angle of incidence escalates, absorption diminishes. La-Nd co-doped YIG-based garnet nanoferrites are anticipated to serve as superior metamaterial absorbers for electromagnetic interference shielding and high-frequency applications in nano device stealth technology and 5G/6G communication systems. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Institute of Physics, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan; Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Universitas Negeri Malang, 65145, Indonesia
