Effect of CNTs blending on the structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of nanosized cobalt ferrite

Preparation of Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) blended multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs); synthesised by solvothermal method is reported. Formation of single phase cubic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles restrained on the external surfaces of CNTs was confirmed by FTIR and XRD analysis. SEM, FESEM and TEM images reveal visible evidence of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles intimately connected to the surface of CNTs. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy inveterate the presence of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles on CNTs surfaces. Dielectric study reveals the dielectric behaviours of the specimen to be much higher than unblended CoFe2O4 nanoparticles stipulating the improvement in the dielectric properties of the specimen which favours these specimens to be used in high-frequency applications. Room temperature vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements indicated nanocomposites displaying ferrimagnetic behaviour. The specific goal of this study is to enhance the dielectric properties of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles by blending them with highly conducting CNTs.