Synthesis and microwave absorbing properties of polyaniline/MnFe2O4 nanocomposite

Conductive polyaniline (PANi)–manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanocomposites with core–shell structure were synthesized by in situ polymerization in the presence of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) as the surfactant and dopant and ammonium persulfate (APS) as the oxidant. The structure and magnetic properties of manganese ferrite nanoparticles were measured by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. Its morphology, microstructure and DC conductivity of the nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and four-wire-technique, respectively. The microwave absorbing properties of the nanocomposite powders dispersing in resin acrylic coating with the coating thickness of 1.4 mm were investigated by using vector network analyzers in the frequency range of 8–12 GHz. A minimum reflection loss of −15.3 dB was observed at 10.4 GHz.

Research highlights
► Polyaniline manganese ferrite nanocomposite as microwave absorbing material.
► Increasing polyaniline and manganese ferrite will increase absorbing properties.
► Magnetic nanocomposites synthesized with core–shell structure.
► Minimum reflection loss of −15.3 dB was observed at 10.4 GHz.