Tunable dielectric properties of Y³ ⁺, Ni²⁺, and Y³ ⁺-Ni²⁺ substituted magnetite nanorods for multifunctional applications in sensing, energy harvesting, and environmental remediation

Dielectric properties are crucial for determining the applicability of materials in various technological fields. This study synthesized magnetite nanorods (MtNRs) and their substituted variants with Y³ ⁺ (YMtNRs), Ni²⁺ (NiMtNRs), and Y³ ⁺-Ni²⁺ (YNiMtNRs) using an eco-friendly co-precipitation method to explore their potential applications based on dielectric performance. The dielectric constants (έ) of these materials were 179, 38, 321, and 231, respectively. YMtNRs, with the lowest dielectric constant (έ = 38), exhibited the highest oxidation current (0.51 μA) in non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing of vanillin, attributed to highly conductive grains and grain boundaries enhancing electron exchange and reducing polarization. NiMtNRs, with the highest dielectric constant (έ = 321), demonstrated superior potential generation (32 V) in triboelectric nanogenerator applications, due to highly conductive grains and resistive grain boundaries limiting electron exchange and improving dielectric performance. YNiMtNRs, with an intermediate dielectric constant (έ = 231), showed the highest photocatalytic degradation (88 %) of crystal violet dye, attributed to the synergistic effects of yttrium and nickel ions facilitating effective generation and stabilization of electron-hole pairs. This study demonstrates that the applications of these materials vary depending on their dielectric constants, providing a versatile approach for developing multifunctional materials tailored for specific technological needs.