Effect of calcination and surface functionalization of nanoparticles on structural, magnetic and electrical properties of polyaniline Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanocomposites

Abstract

The present work explored the electromagnetic polyaniline-nanocomposites materials using calcined and polydopamine functionalized nickel-zinc ferrite (Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles for adjustment over the magnetic and electrical properties. The properties of the composites were analysed by XRD, HRTEM, Raman, DRS, TGA and VSM techniques. The analytical results showed that the crystallinity and particle size greatly depend on calcination and surface functionalization using dopamine. The crystallization, thermal properties, and saturation magnetization increased by the calcination of nanoparticles, whereas dopamine coating decreased these properties. The dopamine coated nanoferrites nanocomposites have shown the best electrical and electrochemical properties. The dopamine coating of nanoferrites has improved the optical properties owning to effective surface functionalization due to the transfer of the cations on the surface as clear from the FTIR and Raman spectrum. The increase in DC conductivity of the polyaniline nickel zinc ferrite nanocomposites on increasing temperature indicates their semiconducting features. The ionic and DC conductivity of polyaniline nanocomposites can be controlled by tuning the properties of reinforcing nanoparticles through calcination and dopamine coating. All of the findings display the use of polyaniline nanocomposites for energy storage devices and other applications. • Calcination and dopamine functionalization of nickel zinc nanoferrites were carried out. • Dispersion stability of nanoferrites was achieved by polydopamine coating. • Structural, thermal and physiochemical properties of polyaniline nanoferrite composites were investigated.