Novel cobalt lead ferrite (CPFO)/Ps nanocomposites with enhanced structure, optical and dielectric properties

Abstract

Hexa-spinel ferrite nanoparticles of Cobalt Lead Ferrite (CPFO) were prepared by a flash auto combustion method, while xCPFO/PS (x = 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 wt%) nanocomposite films were synthesized by casting method. The diffraction pattern and Rietveld refinement of CPFO nanoparticles proved that they have a face-centred cubic spinel and a hexagonal structure. HRTEM micrographs of cobalt lead ferrite (CPFO) nanoparticles show an average particle size of around 30 nm. FESEM cross-section images of CPFO/PS nanocomposite films showed CPFO nanoparticles dispersed in the PS matrix. All optical characteristics of the synthesized nanocomposite films, including absorbance, transmittance, direct and indirect energy band gap, Urbach energy, excitation coefficient, and refractive index, were investigated using a UV-visible spectrophotometer examination. The direct optical energy band gap lowered from 4.533 eV to 4.368 eV, and the indirect energy optical bandgap lowered from 4.337 eV to 4.146 eV, while the Urbach energy increased from 0.103 eV to 0.209 eV with increasing the nanofillers from 0 to 7.5 wt%. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy was used over a wide frequency range (0.1 Hz–1 MHz). The dielectric real permittivity (ε′), the dissipation factor tan (δ) and the electric modulus (M′&M′′) measurements were studied. CPFO nanoparticles’ addition significantly enhanced the dielectric real permittivity (ε′), the dissipation factor tan (δ), and the ac conductivity of all nanocomposites.