Zinc ferrite @ polyindole nanocomposites: Synthesis, characterization and gas sensing applications

Abstract

This research work deals with the synthesis and characterization of polyindole (PIN)/zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanocomposite. In situ polymerization of indole with different contents of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles has been employed in the work. Structural, morphological, thermal, gas sensing and electrical properties of the prepared composites have been evaluated. The shifting of peaks in the Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectrum has been found to reveal the interaction of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles with the PIN matrix. Crystalline nature of the nanocomposites resulting from the presence of crystalline ZnFe2O4 has been revealed by X‐ray diffraction studies (XRD). Scanning electron microscope and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy images revealed the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles at lower loading while at 15 wt% there are particle agglomerations. Improved thermal stability with the addition of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles in PIN has been confirmed by thermogravimetry while the enhancement in glass transition temperature of the nanocomposite with respect to pure polymer has been confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. The addition of nanoparticles greatly enhanced the alternating current and direct current conductivity, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss of PIN. The composite with 7 wt% shows the maximum properties. The fabricated composites showed excellent sensitivity and fast response to ammonia gas at room temperature. Thus the study reveals that the PIN/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites can be considered as a potential candidate for the applications in sensors and nanoelectronic devices. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2802–2811, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers

Influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the structural, thermal, electrical properties, and gas sensing behavior of polyaniline/phenothiazine blend nanocomposites

“…The ammonia (100 ppm) gas sensing ability of the polymer blend nanocomposites was explored. The experimental setup was described in previous work . The response or sensitivity of gas was determined as where R g and R o are the measured resistances of sensors in ammonia and air, respectively.…”

Synthesis, characterization, gas sensing, and electrical property evaluation of polyaniline/copper‐alumina nanocomposites

“…Recently several approaches are carried out for the enhancement of processability and mechanical properties of conducting polymer due to their variegating properties and applications. [1][2][3][4] The delocalization of pi electrons through the conjugated chains or rings in the conjugated polymers are responsible for the electrical conductivity. The conducting polymers find their application in solar cells, sensor (electrochemical, optical, gas) and rechargeable batteries.…”

Investigating the Effect of Zn Ferrite Nanoparticles on the Thermomechanical, Dielectric and Magnetic Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites

“…These unique properties make polymer nanocomposites, especially those filled with magnetic inclusions, suitable for advanced applications in various fields such as chemical sensors, magnetic recording materials, molecular electronic, electric catalysis, electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding, rechargeable battery, microwave absorption materials and corrosion protection coatings [2,3,4,5,6,22,23,24]. The vast majority of studies in the field investigate the properties of either composites containing non-stoichiometric zinc ferrite nanoparticles, where part of Zn is substituted by metallic ions like Ni or Co, or zinc ferrite incorporated in a conductive polymer matrix like PANI or PP [25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32]. In this study pure stoichiometric zinc ferrite nanoparticles have been incorporated in an insulating epoxy matrix, targeting to study the multifunctional behavior of the produced nanocomposites by assessing their thermal, thermomechanical, electrical and magnetic properties.…”