One-pot Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. leaf extract-mediated preparation of MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles: Optical, structural, morphological and particle size analyses

In this study, MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were successfully prepared through one-pot synthesis using Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. Leaf extract (CLE) as a source of weak bases and stabilizing agents. The optical property, structure, morphology, and particle size of the nanoparticles were analyzed. Several characterizations were performed to investigate the formation of nanoparticles. The absorption peaks at 576 cm⁻¹ and 427 cm⁻¹ were attributed to Mg–O vibration stretching at the tetrahedral (8a) site and Fe–O vibration stretching at the octahedral site (16d) of MgFe₂O₄ spinel structure, respectively. The most prominent diffraction pattern of MgFe₂O₄ with a spinel structure was found at 2θ = 35.55 in the crystal plane (311). The optical bandgap of MgFe₂O₄ was obtained to be 2.12 eV. The values of Hc, Mr, and Ms were 110.38 Oe; 1.4 emu/g; and 13.74 emu/g, respectively. All characterizations are in good agreement that MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were formed with a spherical shape with a particle size distribution of approximately 12–20 nm. Importantly, we designed a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly approach for synthesizing MgFe₂O₄ nanoparticles.