MWCNTs Decorated with Cobalt Ferrite Nano-particles for Enhanced Dielectric Properties

Abstract

Nanohybrids of CoFe2O4/MWCNTs with increasing MWCNTs loading from 0.0 % , 0.5 % , 1 % , 1.5 % and 2 % were prepared by a novel method of dispersion using ortho-xylene as a dispersive medium for the first time. In our current research, CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via wet chemical co-precipitation route. Non-magnetic MWCNTs matrix was dispersed uniformly in the synthesized ferrite nanoparticles using ortho-xylene as a polar solvent. X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) , Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Impedance Analyzer were utilized to effectively investigate the synthesized nano-hybrid. The obtained XRD patterns verified the formation of pure Face Centered Cubic (FCC) single phase of CoFe2O4/MWCNTs nanohybrid. The average crystallite size for each sample was in complete agreement with the results obtained from high resolution SEM within experimental error. SEM results showed aggregation of ferrite nanoparticles on MWCNTs. The dielectric properties were found to be massively enhanced with increased loadings of MWCNTs. The dielectric constant ( ) was massively enhanced from 45 for pure cobalt ferrites to 3.7×1011 for 2.0% MWCNTs loading at 100 Hz. The dielectric and tangent losses also increased from 21, 0.47 for pure cobalt ferrites to 2.98×1016, 9.87×104 at 100 Hz for 2.0% MWCNTs loading respectively indicating that this area of research should further be exploited in the realm of super capacitors and microwave absorber for high frequency.