Structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of NiZnSmFe₂O₄/MWCNTs nanocomposite for energy storage applications

In the current study, the novel NiZnSmFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by sol gel assisted auto combustion route. Their NiZnSmFe₂O₄/MWCNTs nanocomposite with MWCNTs content (wt.%) were prepared by dispersion assisted ultra-sonication process. The components were functionalized and linked together using 50 ml of toluene. In depth study of the prepared nanocomposites different characterization techniques have been employed. The crystalline phase of the prepared nanocomposites was confirmed through XRD, which also indicated small changes in lattice-related parameters with MWCNT loading. XRD characterization confirmed a trend of crystallite size reduction, with values falling from 11.34 nm to 11.15 nm. TEM analysis was used to calculate the particle size and examine the internal morphology. The TEM analysis showed an average particle size of 36 nm, with MWCNT diameters between 10 and 11.7 nm. Spinel bands in the sample were identified and confirmed by FTIR examination. The dielectric response of the sample was studied in the frequency range of 25 Hz to 2 MHz with the help of an impedance analyzer. The all the characteristics including impedance, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, Ac conductivity and tangent loss were massively changed with the addition of the MWCNTs. To evaluate the magnetic behavior, the samples of the nanocomposite was examined using vibrating sample magnetometery (VSM). The changes in the magnetic parameters M_r, H_c, M_s, M_r/M_s, and K were obverse on the basis of the increasing content of the MWCNTs. The combine effect of the high dielectric constant, low impedance and low magnetic characteristics, suggest these prepared nanocomposites effective for low-frequency energy storage and water treatment applications.