Structural, morphological, dielectric and magnetic characterizations of Ni0.6Cu0.2Zn0.2Fe2O4 (NCZF/MWCNTs/PVDF) nanocomposites for multilayer chip inductor (MLCI) applications

Nanocomposites of Ni0.6Cu0.2Zn0.2Fe2O4 (NCZF/PVDF) with and without Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)were prepared via sol-gel auto combustion method. Structural, morphological, dielectric and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline NCZF/PVDF/MWCNTs composites have been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and impedance analyzer. The average particle size was found to increase by increasing sintering temperature from 550 °C to 750 °C. FESEM and TEM images showed homogenous and well distributed crystallized grains of MWCNTs. The real and imaginary part of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent have been illustrated according to the polarization phenomenon in ferrites based on Koop׳s theory and Maxwell-Wagner model. The high initial permeability and dielectric constant were found in Ni0.6Cu0.2Zn0.2Fe2O4/PVDF/MWCNTs sintered at 750 °C; whereas very low electric and magnetic loss factors were investigated. This was attributed to the densification and grain growth of NCZF ferrites combined with remarkable properties of MWCNTs. The optimized dielectric and magnetic properties of NCZF nanocomposites with MWCNTs indicated that these types of nanoferrites can be used for the device fabrication such as multilayer chip inductors (MLCI׳s) and for high frequency applications.