On 19/05/2026, at 1:15 PM, in room 2011 of the Faculty of Physics, University of Białystok, mgr Kinga Anna Szarkowska, from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics; Doctoral School of the University of Bialystok,will give a lecture entitled:
„Structural and magnetic properties of rare-earth doped magnetite nanoparticles”
Tomasz Karpiuk
Andrzej Maziewski
„Structural and magnetic properties of rare-earth doped magnetite nanoparticles ”
mgr Kinga Anna Szarkowska
Department of Condensed Matter Physics; Doctoral School of the University of Bialystok
Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles doped with rare-earth elements (REE) provide a versatile platform for investigating the interplay between structural lattice distortions and magnetic properties. Due to their chemical stability and magnetic tunability, these materials are promising candidates for environmental applications, specifically for the magnetic separation of water pollutants. This presentation will first discuss the results of my master’s research, which involved the synthesis and characterization of eight REE-doped magnetite samples (La, Pr, Tb, and Gd) via chemical co-precipitation. I will analyze how varying dopant concentrations influence the crystal lattice and saturation magnetization. Although these materials were initially intended as nanophosphors, the absence of luminescence redirected the research focus toward their structural integrity and magnetic performance, providing insights into the limits of lanthanide integration into the Fe3O4 host. In the second part, I will introduce my current doctoral project, which builds upon these previous findings. To address the limitations of co-precipitation, particularly the requirement for a higher specific surface area for efficient adsorption, I have transitioned to a sol-gel synthesis route. I will present preliminary results on the production of highly porous magnetite nanoparticles. The talk will conclude by outlining a vision for these engineered nanoparticles as efficient, magnetically recoverable agents for advanced water purification.
