Development and Characterization of MnFe₂O₄-Nanocellulose Hybrid Nanocomposites for Advanced Functional Applications
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 2 (June 2026) pp. 183-195
Abstract
Development of multifunctional nanocomposite materials based on natural fibers and magnetic oxides remains challenging due to nanoparticle agglomeration and weak interaction between inorganic nanoparticles and biodegradable fiber matrices. In this work, a hybrid nanocomposite was developed using manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) nanoparticles and nanocellulose fibers derived from bamboo as a sustainable reinforcing matrix. MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion method employing iron nitrate and manganese nitrate precursors with glycine as a fuel–chelating agent, while nanocellulose fibers were obtained from bamboo cellulose through alkali treatment, bleaching, and TEMPO-mediated oxidation. The MnFe₂O₄–nanocellulose composites were prepared in two weight ratios (50:50 and 75:25) through dispersion, ultrasonication, filtration, and drying processes. Structural and morphological characterization was carried out using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDAX analyses. The XRD results confirmed the formation of spinel MnFe₂O₄ with crystallite sizes in the range 15–20 nm, while nanocellulose fibers exhibited crystallite sizes of approximately 20–30 nm. The SEM analysis revealed that MnFe2O4 nanoparticles had particle sizes ranging from 60–120 nm, whereas nanocellulose fibers showed diameters between 15 and 35 nm. The composite samples displayed particle size distributions of 60–120 nm for the 50:50 composition and 40–110 nm for the 75:25 composition, indicating effective dispersion of ferrite nanoparticles within the nanocellulose matrix. The EDAX analysis further confirmed the presence of Mn, Fe, O, and C elements, validating the successful formation of hybrid composite structure. The synthesized MnFe2O4–nanocellulose nanocomposites exhibit porous morphology, high surface area, and improved structural stability, making them promising materials for gas sensing, environmental monitoring, catalytic systems, and advanced functional nanomaterial applications.
Full Text
Reference
Ali, I. O., Salama, T. M., Nady, H., Seaf, E. T. A. and Mohamed, H. H., Fabrication and engineering of cd-doped MnFe2O4 spinel ferrites for hydrogen evolution in alkaline media, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 182, 115353(2025).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2025.115353
Amjad, M., Bibi, I., Iqbal, M., Kamal, S., Mustafa, G., Nouren, S., Taj, B., Nazar, N., Alwadai, N. and Nazir, A., Interfacial coupling-driven enhancement of capacitance in MnFe₂O₄/NiO nanocomposites synthesized via sol–gel auto-combustion, J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol., 117(3), 60(2026).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-025-07094-9
Asmare, F. W., Liu, X., Qiao, G., Li, R., Babu K, M. and Wu, D., Investigation and application of different extraction techniques for the production of finer bamboo fibres, Adv. Bamboo Sci., 7, 100070(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bamboo.2024.100070
Chakkour, M., Moussa, M. O., Khay, I., Balli, M. and Ben Zineb, T., Hygroscopic aging cycles of bamboo fiber/epoxy composites: Comparative study between distilled water and sea water, Indus. Crops Prod., 209, 117957(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.117957
Dhasharatha, U., Vinod, G., Rajashekhar, K., Mallesh, D., Sreematha, B. and Laxman, N. J., Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B using Yb3+-Doped Zn-Mg ferrites synthesized via conventional sol-gel auto-combustion method, Ceram. Int., 50(22), 46940–46961(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.09.046
Fourari, A., Chakkour, M., Ould, M. M., Khay, I. and Ben, Z. T., Thermal aging effects on microstructural, sorption and mechanical properties of bamboo fibers, Cellulose, 33(2), 695–716(2026).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-025-06909-w
Geremew, A., De Winne, P., Demissie, T. A. and De Backer, H., Surface modification of bamboo fibers through alkaline treatment: Morphological and physical characterization for composite reinforcement, J. Eng. Fib. Fab., 19, 248764(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1177/15589250241248764
Ghaly, M., Youssef, M. A. and Borai, E. H., Efficient separation of cerium from rare earth elements and major impurities using low-cost manganese ferrites from highly acidic solutions, J. Environ. Chem. Eng., 12(6), 114588(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.114588
Hammou, Z., Makhloufi, S., Aissaoui, R., Hachani, S. E., Achour, A., Fodil, H., Ben, A. M. L. and Boudiaf, M., Sol–gel synthesis and detailed characterization of manganese ferrite nanoparticle for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, crystal violet, and neutral red dyes, React. Kine. Mech. Catal., 138(6), 4319–4337(2025).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-025-02923-y
Hernández-Castillo, F. J., Cortés-Hernández, D. A. and Escobedo-Bocardo, J. C., Effect of the synthesis method on the heating ability and physicochemical properties of gallium and strontium-substituted manganese ferrites, Mater. Chem. Phy., 337, 130623(2025).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.130623
Kogulakrishnan, K., Nithiyanantham, S., Mohan, R., Giridharan, N. V, Silambarasan, S., Venkadesh, A., Latha, V., Gunasekaran, B. and Palaniappan, L., Structural, electrical and magnetic studies on Zn doped MnFe2O4 nanoparticles with via Sol-Gel approach, J. Mol. Struct., 1321, 140026(2025).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2024.140026
Kondalkar, M., Fegade, U., Kanchi, S., Altalhi, T., Suryawanshi, K. E. and Patil, A. M., Adsorption of Cr(VI) on Ultrafine Al2O3-doped MnFe2O4 nanocomposite surface: Experimental and theoretical study using double-layer modeling, J. Phy. Chem. Sol., 163(2022).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2021.110544
Mahmoud, Z. H., Hussein, S. A., Hassan, E. A., Abduvalieva, D., Mhaibes, R. M., Kadhum, A. A. H., Nasier, S. J., Kianfar, E. and Faghih, S., Characterization and catalytic performance of rGO-enhanced MnFe2O4 nanocomposites in CO oxidation, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 169, 113037(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2024.113037
Mumtaz, M., Mubasher, and Ali, M., Structural, Dielectric and Electric Modulus Studies of MnFe2O4/(MWCNTs) x Nanocomposites, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 30(6), 4494–4503(2021).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-05721-4
Nayebi, R. and Fallah, S. A., Simple and eco-friendly synthesis of octahedral MnFe2O4 using green tea and application in congo red dye adsorption, Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., 23(1), 54(2026).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-025-06883-7
Oviya, K. J. and Sivagurunathan, P., Structural, Magnetic and Electrochemical Properties of Nickel Manganese Ferrite (NixMn1-xFe2O4) Nanoparticles Prepared via Coprecipitation Method, Asian J. Chem., 36(10), 2375–2384(2024).
https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2024.32404
Pandey, B., Srivastava, R. C., Joshi, C. S. and Verma, H. K., Effect of cerium ion doping: Alteration in structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of manganese ferrite nanoparticles, Physica B: Condensed Matter, 711, 417302(2025).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2025.417302
Riaz, T., Tahira, F., Mansoor, S., Shahid, S., Javed, M., Shahzadi, T., Zidan, A., Seçkin, C. İ., Zaib, M., Bahadur, A., Iqbal, S., Mahmood, S., Alzahrani, E. and Farouk, A. E., Highly operative removal of amoxicillin (AMX) from aqueous solution by MnFe2O4 nanoparticles and carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) composite, Polyhedron, 263, 117195(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2024.117195
Sarfraz, Z., Hussain, M., Mumtaz, M., Luqman, M., Kaleem, M. and Raza, M., Impact of Cobalt Doping on the Structural and Frequency-Dependent Dielectric Properties of Manganese Ferrites for Advanced Energy Storage Applications, J. Electron. Mater., 55(1), 565–581(2026).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-025-12534-x
Shanmugam, Y. and Rajan, B. D., Synthesis, characterisation and antibacterial activity of green synthesised manganese ferrite, Chem. Phy. Impact, 12, 101011(2026).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chphi.2026.101011
Teymur, Y. A. and Güzel, F., Microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization, and oxytetracycline antibiotic sorption performance of a novel magnetic nanohybrid material: MnFe2O4@black cumin solid waste-derived activated carbon, J. Environ. Chem. Eng., 12(3), 112641(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.112641
Ullah, N., Sadiq, S., Khan, S., Ismail, M. and Sadiq, M., PEG-Modified MnFe2O4 Nanoparticles: Polymer-Assisted Enhancement in Photocatalytic Degradation and Mechanistic Insights, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 143(10), e70208(2026).
https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70208
Verma, Y. K., Singh, A. K., Paswan, M. K. and Gurmaita, P. K., A novel approach to extract and characterize vacuum-pressurized bamboo fibers using mechano-chemical techniques, J. Wood Chem. Technol., 43(4), 230–242(2023).
https://doi.org/10.1080/02773813.2023.2224301
Verma, Y. K., Singh, A. K., Paswan, M. K. and Prashanth, S., Mechano-chemical extraction and characterization of tannic acid-functionalized bamboo fibers from vacuum-pressure impregnation (VPI) treated and untreated sources to enhance mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminated composites, Wood Mater. Sci. Eng., 21(1), 498–513(2026).
https://doi.org/10.1080/17480272.2024.2436517
Vermani, S., Kaur, P. and Kaur, V., Characterization of Thermally Stable Bamboo Fiber Sheet Loaded with Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles, J. Electron. Mater., 53(4), 1796–1806(2024).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-024-10917-0
Yasar, M. and Javed, K., Synthetic Studies of Aluminum-Doped Zn0.5Mn0.5AlxFe2−xO4 Ferrite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Atrazine Under Visible Light, Arab. J. Sci. Eng., 50(9), 6471–6484(2025).
