Preparation Novel Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polyaniline Hybrid Nanocomposites Based on Barium Titanate and Magnetite

Abstract

In the current study, the host matrix was a polymer blend consisting of 10 wt% conductive polyaniline (PANi) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). PVA/ 10 wt% PANi nanocomposites were prepared by compositing it with different barium titanate (BaTiO₃) contents (2.5, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) before/after ionic liquid (IL) treatment by using casting techniques. To enhance magnetic characteristics of the nanocomposites described above, magnetite (Fe₃O₄) was involved at constant 10 wt% percentages (optimum concentration). Various methodologies were employed to analyze the prepared nanocomposites, including Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scan Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Micro-hardness and magnetic investigation as well. Furthermore, the electrical and dielectric properties were investigated, including permittivity (ε’), dielectric loss (ε’’), and electrical conductivity (σ). FESEM micrographs show a uniform dispersion of either Fe₃O₄ or IL-treated BaTiO₃ particles in the PVA/PANi matrix up to a concentration of 10 wt%. Beyond this concentration, there are signs of particle aggregation. The micro-hardness data indicate a decrease in composites containing ionic liquid, which is attributed to the enhanced flexibility of these composites. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis of nanocomposites containing 10 wt% Fe₃O₄ discloses their super paramagnetic properties. In addition, the dielectric investigation revealed that PVA/PANi nanocomposites exhibit optimal permittivity (ε’) and dielectric loss (ε’’) values when Fe₃O₄ and treated BaTiO₃ are combined with ionic liquid particles. It was found that ε′ dramatically increased by the addition of Fe₃O₄ with 10% when compared with that free from Fe₃O₄ For example, ε′ for PVA/ 10 wt% PANi/ 10 wt% IL- treated BaTiO₃ was 14 × 10³ while it was 93 × 10³ after the addition of 10 wt% Fe₃O₄. On the other hand, ε″ is found to be dramatically increased when compared with that for NCPs containing only IL- treated BaTiO₃. For example, ε′ for PVA/ 10 wt% PANi/ 10 wt% IL- treated BaTiO₃ was 14 × 10³ and ε″ was 0.5 × 10² while they detected 93 × 10³ and 0.3 × 10². The electrical conductivity values (σ_dc) of these nanocomposites lie within the range of 10^− 7 to 10^− 6 Scm^− 1. These nanocomposites can be recommended for use as anti-dissipation materials at an appropriate σ_dc range of 10^− 5–10^− 9 Scm^− 1.