https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06112-7
Regular Article
Structural, morphological, dielectric and magnetic properties of (ZnFe2O4)1-x(MWCNTs)x nanocomposites
1
Department of Physics, University of Karachi, 75270, Karachi, Pakistan
2
Core Research Facilities, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), 31261, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
3
Department of Physics, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P. O. Box 1982, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
4
Basic and Applied Scientific Research Center, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P. O. Box 1982, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
5
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P. O. Box 960, Abha, Saudi Arabia
6
K. A. CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), P. O. Box 5040, 31261, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
a
mkhaild@uok.edu.pk
b
mgulbahar@iau.edu.sa
Received:
8
September
2024
Accepted:
10
February
2025
Published online:
5
March
2025
The incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with spinel ferrites can lead to enhanced properties and performance in the resulting nanocomposite. MWCNTs known for their excellent mechanical strength, electrical conductivity and thermal stability can contribute positively to the overall characteristics of the composite. In this research paper, the solgel auto-combustion technique was used to synthesize zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanoparticles. Their (ZnFe2O4)1-x(MWCNTs)x nanocomposites with content MWCNTs as (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25) were prepared through a route known as ultrasonication route. Through X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), the well-defined crystal arrangement and purity of the nanocomposite were confirmed. The loading and the dispersion of the MWCNTs on the surface of the nanoparticle were conducted using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze various vibrational modes. The frequency-dependent dielectric characteristics were investigated by an impedance analyzer in the applied frequency range of 1 MHz to 3 GHz under standard temperature conditions. The dielectric properties including real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant, tangent loss, AC conductivity, real and imaginary parts of impedance and real and imaginary parts of electric modulus have drastically changed with the incorporation of the MWCNTs in pure nanoparticle’s matrix. The magnetic properties of the nanocomposites at room temperature in the range of − 25 to 25 kOe were investigated by utilizing VSM (vibrating sample magnetometery). The magnetic parameters such as maximum magnetization saturation (Mmxs), coercivity (Hc), remanence (Mr) and anisotropic constant (K) as massively decreased with the addition of the MWCNTs. The optimized dielectric and magnetic characteristics of these nanocomposite suggest their potential use in high-frequency equipment, microwave devices and high energy storage devices.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
