Low-Frequency Dependence of Conductivity and Dielectric Properties of Polyaniline/ZnFe₂O₄ Nanocomposites

Conducting polyaniline/ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites are synthesized by using a simple and inexpensive one−step in-situ polymerization method in the presence of ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles. The structural, morphological and electrical properties of the samples are characterized by x−ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and scanning electron microscopy. These results reveal the formation of polyaniline/ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites. The morphology of these samples is studied by scanning electron microscopy. Further, the ac conductivity (σ_ac ) of these composites is investigated in the frequency range of 1 kHz–10 MHz. The presence of polarons and bipolarons are responsible for the frequency dependence of ac conductivity in these nanocomposites. The ac conductivity is found to be constant up to 1 MHz and thereafter it increases steeply. The ac conductivity of 0.695 S⋅cm⁻¹ at room temperature is observed as the maxima for the polyaniline with 40wt% of the ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite.