Investigation of Addition of Manganese Ferrite Nanoparticles (MnFe2O4 NPs) on Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polyethylene Glycol Blend for Magnetoelectronics and Optoelectronics Applications

Abstract

In this study, manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe2O4 NPs) were successfully prepared using the solvothermal method. XRD, HRTEM, FT-IR, and VSM techniques were used to characterize pure MnFe2O4 NPs. After that, the prepared MnFe2O4 NPs were added with different compositions to PVA/PEG polymer blend using a simple casting method. The XRD and FT-IR confirmed the insertion of MnFe2O4 NPs inside the PVA/PEG blend. Optical parameters affirmed that the addition of MnFe2O4 decreases the optical band gap for PVA/PEG blend samples. FESEM and cross-section examination evident that the incorporation of MnFe2O4 NPs creates small pores inside PVA/PEG blend and also increased its surface roughness. Dielectric properties were measured at room temperature in the range (0.1 Hz–20 MHz). Both dielectric constant and dielectric loss were shown to decrease with increasing frequency while increasing with increasing MnFe2O4 NPs. Loss tangent (tanδ) showed a peak with frequency, indicating that these nanocomposites were dielectrically relaxed, with relaxation time decreasing with increasing MnFe2O4 NPs. The results showed that increasing the concentration of MnFe2O4 NPs leads to increase electrical conductivity. VSM results showed a great enhancement of magnetic properties of PVA/PEG with increasing MnFe2O4 NPs which makes these nanocomposites were perfectly used in magnetoelectronics and optoelectronics devices.