Synthesis and ferrimagnetic properties of novel Sm-substituted LiNi ferrite–polyaniline nanocomposite

Polyaniline (PANI)–LiNi0.5Sm0.08Fe1.92O4 nanocomposite was synthesized by an in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of LiNi0.5Sm0.08Fe1.92O4 ferrite. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–visible absorption spectrometer, thermogravimetric analyser (TGA), atomic force microscope (AFM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results of XRD, FTIR and UV–visible spectra confirmed the formation of PANI–LiNi0.5Sm0.08Fe1.92O4 composite. AFM study showed that ferrite particles had an effect on the morphology of the composite. TGA revealed that the incorporation of ferrite improved the thermal stability of PANI. The nanocomposite under applied magnetic field exhibited the hysteresis loops of ferrimagnetic nature at room temperature. The bonding interaction between ferrite and PANI in the nanocomposite had been studied.