Preparation and electromagnetic properties of La-doped barium-ferrite/polythiophene composites

La-doped barium-ferrite/polythiophene (LB/PTh) composites have been successfully synthesized by in situ chemical polymerization with ferric chloride (FeCl3) as an initiator. Crystal structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Morphology was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electromagnetic of composites was tested by four-probe conductivity tester and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results of XRD indicated that La3+ had entered into the lattice of barium ferrite. FTIR spectra demonstrated that there were interactions between ferrite particles and PTh. TEM and SEM studies showed that the composites presented the core–shell structure. The electrical conductivity of the composites decreases with the ferrite particles content increase. Under applied magnetic field, nanocomposite exhibited the hysteretic loops of the ferromagnetic behavior. The saturation magnetization and coercivity of nanocomposites varied with the content of ferrite particles.

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► We have firstly prepared the La-doped barium-ferrite/polythiophene composites.
► There were interactions between ferrite particles and polythiophene.
► The conductivity of composites decreases with the ferrite particles content increase.
► Composites exhibited the hystereric loops of the ferromagnetic behavior.
► Ms and Hc of composites varied with the content of ferrite particles.