Investigation of structural, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties of PMMA doped with magnetite nanoparticles

Abstract

This research deals with structural, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of nanocomposite composed of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and cobalt ferrite (CFO) nanoparticles. Nanocomposite films were synthesized using solution casting technique. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and high-resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using UV–Vis technique, the absorption coefficient and optical energy gap of the nanocomposite films were determined. The refractive index was calculated using Dimitrov–Sakka relationship. The findings showed that the optical energy gap decreased, and the refractive index increased as the concentration of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles within PMMA matrix increased. The magnetic hysteresis loop of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles and all nanocomposite films show a ferrimagnetic behavior. Dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and the electrical conductivity for all samples increased by increasing the concentration of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. The values of activation energy decreased by increasing the magnetite nanoparticles content. All the nanocomposite films possess low dielectric loss inferred the potential application in energy storage and embedded electronic devices.