[Ni
0.4
Cu
0.2
Zn
0.4
](Fe
2–
x
Dy
x
)O
4
spinel
ferrite nanoparticles with different Dy
3+
concentrations
(0.00 ≤
x
≤ 0.04) were prepared by
a citrate sol–gel auto-combustion technique. A strong correlation
among Dy concentration, structural parameters, and magnetic, electrical,
and microwave properties was established. An increase in the Dy
3+
concentration is the reason for a rise in the crystal structure
parameters (due to different ionic radii of Fe and Dy ions) and a
slight increase in the average particle size with a minor reduction
in the specific surface area. It was observed that Dy
3+
ions prefer to occupy the octahedral B site due to their large ionic
radius (0.91 Å). The explanation of the electrical and magnetic
properties was given in terms of the features of Dy
3+
–O
2–
–Fe
3+
dysprosium–oxygen–iron
indirect exchange. The occurrence of the intensive changes in amplitude–frequency
characteristics was observed from 1.6 to 2.7 GHz. The explanation
of electromagnetic absorption was given in terms of the peculiarities
of the microstructure (resonance of domain boundaries). The results
open perspectives in the utilization of [Ni
0.4
Cu
0.2
Zn
0.4
](Fe
2–
x
Dy
x
)O
4
spinel ferrite nanoparticles
as functional materials for targeted drug delivery and hyperthermia
applications.