Structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of polyaniline/MnCoFe2O4 nanocomposites

Ferromagnetic PANI containing MnCoFe2O4 nanocomposites were synthesized by hi situ chemical polymerization of aniline incorporated MnCoFe2O4 nanoparticles (20%, 10% w/w of fine powders) with and without ultrasonic treatment. The NInCoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by auto combustion method. The PANI/MnCoFe2O4 nanocomposites were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FUR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The average particle size of the resulting PANI/MnCoFe2O4 nanocomposites was confirmed from the TEM and XRD analysis. The structure and morphology of the composites were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD and SEM. In addition, the electrical and magnetic properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. The PANI/MnCoFe2O4 nanocomposites under applied magnetic field exhibited the hysteresis loops of ferromagnetic nature at room temperature. The variation of Dielectric constant, Dielectric loss, and AC conductivity of PANI/MnCoFe2O4 nanocomposites at room temperature as a function of frequency in the range 50 Hz-5 MHz has been studied. Effect of ultrasonication on the PANI/MnCoFe2O4 nanocomposites was also investigated. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.