The effect of chelating/combustion agent on catalytic activity and magnetic properties of Dy doped Ni-Zn ferrite

► Ni-Zn ferrite doped with Dy as catalyst and magnetic material. ► Four chelating/combustion agents were used in sol-gel method. ► Citric acid and cellulose allowed spinel monophase formation confirmed by XRD. ► Catalytic activity of ferrite samples is affected by synthesis conditions. ► Magnetic behavior is not changed significantly as a function of fuel agent.