Magnetic, conductive, and microwave absorption properties of polythiophene nanofibers layered on MnFe2O4/Fe3O4 core–shell structures

Polythiophene (PTh) nanofibers coated on MnFe2O4/Fe3O4 core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized via co-precipitation and in situ polymerization. The products were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometry, and radar-absorbing material reflectivity using the far-field radar cross-section method. XRD and FTIR results confirmed the formation of MnFe2O4/Fe3O4/PTh nanocomposites. The morphology of the nanocomposites was observed by TEM and SEM. Changes in the magnetic and conductive properties after PTh coating were investigated. The microwave absorption properties of the nanocomposites were investigated in the frequency range 8.0–12.0 GHz. MnFe2O4/Fe3O4 nanoparticles had a core–shell structure, with MnFe2O4 as the magnetic core and Fe3O4 as the shell. MnFe2O4/Fe3O4/PTh nanocomposites had a multiple shell–core structure, with PTh as the outer shell.