Polyaniline/Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 core-shell nano-composites. Synthesis, characterization and properties

Magnetic nano-composites having different percentages of polyaniline (PANI) and Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized using in-situ polymerization process. The utilized Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 nanoparticles were prepared via sucrose auto-combustion route. The structural, thermal, magnetic and electrical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Ac-conductivity and dielectric measurements. XRD, FT-IR and TEM measurements showed the existence of some interactions between PANI and ferrite nanoparticles resulted in the formation of nano-composites with core-shell structure. TG measurements exhibited the improvement of the thermal stability by increasing ferrite content. VSM experiments indicated ferromagnetic properties of the entire studied nano-composites with an obvious increase in the magnetization by ferrite addition. On the other hand the gradual decrease in the coercivity with increasing ferrite ratio was attributed to the core-shell structure formed. The ac conductivity as well as the dielectric properties were studied as a function of temperature and frequency. The ferrite addition increases the dielectric properties as well as the conductivity of pure PANI as a result of increasing thermal stability.