Synergetic effect of polyaniline/sodium doped nickel oxide composites on structural, thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties

Polyaniline/Sodium-doped nickel oxide composites (PANI/NNO) were synthesized successfully with varying amounts of sodium-doped nickel oxide (5-20%) (NNO) via the in-situ chemical oxidation polymerization method. The X-ray diffraction and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy analysis reveals the systematic arrangement and presence of NNO nanoparticles in the PANI matrix of nanofiberous structured PANI/NNO composites. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy showed broadening and shifting of peaks in composites, which implies chemical interaction between PANI and NNO for better conjugation. PANI/NNO composites have been found to have better thermal stability due to the reduction of grain boundaries, compactness, and conformation that with the loading of NNO particles also enhanced its conductivity. The weight loss of the composites decreased by 14.35% with incorporation of NNO in PANI. The kinetic parameters like half-life and activation energy are assessed using the Coats-Redfern method. Thermal stability, half-life, and activation energy of the PANI/NNO composite upgraded with the inclusion of relatively thermally stable NNO. The AC conductivity and impedance spectroscopy showed conductivity enhancement in composites. The conductivity of composites increased by 3.55 times than PANI found to be 2.42 S/m. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss of composites were higher than PANI due to increased magnitude with the incorporation of NNO nanoparticles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyzer has been used to evaluate equivalent electric circuit parameters of composites and it confirms the presence of non-Debye type relaxation process. The vibrating sample magnetometer measurement indicates weak ferromagnetisms in composites and having a multi-domain state. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study confirms constituent elements presence. PANI/NNO composite with highest concentration found to have total shielding effectiveness of 31.48 dB at 2.11 nm thickness.