Synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles in polystyrene matrix enhanced optical, dielectric, and magnetic properties

Abstract

Recently, the development of particles fortified polymer composites has grown significantlydue to their intelligent uses in many fields.Cobalt nanoparticles' impact on the dielectric, optical, and magnetic properties of cobalt/polystyrene (Co/PS) nanocomposite films has been investigated. Co-NPs were preparedusing the reduction method and loadedintothepolystyrenematrixwith different concentrations(2, 5, 8, and 10 wt.%),forming nanocompositefilms. X-ray diffraction XRD was used to describe the structure of the produced films. The results showed a hexagonal (hcp) structure with ε phase of the Co-NPs in the PS matrix. The topography of the cross-section of nanocomposite films was scanned through a field emission electron microscope (FE-SEM). The high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) was used to examine the morphology of the produced Co-NPs. Zetasizer considered the charge and particle size distribution of the prepared Co-NPs powder. At room temperature, dielectric spectroscopy looked at the dielectric characteristics over a frequency range from 10−1 - 107 Hz. The UV analyzed the optical properties of nanocomposite films–VIS technique. The optical bandgap of the nanocomposite films is a direct allowed transition and decreases from 4.51 to 3.69e, which increases the absorption coefficient. A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) was used to measure the magnetic hysteresis loops of the produced films at room temperature. The ferromagnetic behavior of all samples was evident, and there was an apparent magnetic hysteresis. All samples exhibited high coercivity, where the exchange bias decreased from 28.02 Oe to 1.42 Oe with increasing Co wt% in PS. The present work found that the Co/PS nanocomposite films loaded with various concentrations of Co-NPs and tuned properties may be suitable for use in electrical energy storage, photonic devices, and some magnetic applications, such as spintronic devices.