Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics最新文献

{"title":"Structural modulation and enhanced electrocaloric properties of hydrothermally synthesized Gd-doped BaTiO3 lead-free ceramics","authors":"Ch. Aruna,&nbsp;Ch.Sameera Devi","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18651-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18651-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pure BaTiO₃ and Gd-doped BaTiO₃ ceramic compounds with the chemical composition of Ba_1−xGd_xTiO₃ (<i>x</i> = 0–0.05) have been successfully fabricated through the hydrothermal method to study the effect of Gd doping on their structural, optical, dielectric, ferroelectric, magnetic, and electrocaloric characteristics. The structural analysis using the XRD technique has proved the formation of single-phase perovskite structure up to 4 mol% Gd, whereas the compound with 5 mol% of Gd has shown phase decomposition due to secondary phase formation. The Raman analysis has proved a decrease in tetragonal ferroelectric distortion with an increase in Gd content along with an increase in lattice disordering. The optical energy band gap values obtained using UV–Vis diffuse reflectance and Kubelka–Munk functions have shown defect-induced narrowing from 3.20 to 3.02 eV. The dielectric measurement has reported a change in ferroelectric characteristic to relaxor-like property along with a decrease in the Curie temperature and an increase in the Curie–Weiss parameter because of defect dipoles. From the electrocaloric investigation, it was found that the composition with 1 mol% of Gd doping had the highest values of pyroelectric coefficient, entropy change, temperature change, and electrocaloric sensitivity, indicating its potential as an efficient multifunctional lead-free material.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 30","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of high-frequency performance for Finemet nanocrystalline soft-magnetic composites via acid passivation","authors":"Bolin Li,&nbsp;Chenglong Lian,&nbsp;Mengrui Li,&nbsp;Xiaojun Sun,&nbsp;Mingxu Wang,&nbsp;Li Wang,&nbsp;Guibing Shi","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18642-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18642-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Though Finemet SMCs exhibit excellent high-frequency soft-magnetic performance, their core losses (<i>P</i>_cv) at high frequencies remain to be further reduced. In this work, the effects of HNO₃, H₃PO₄, and H₂C₂O₄ passivation on the Finemet nanocrystalline powders were systematically investigated to decrease the <i>P</i>_cv at ~ 1000 kHz. The results show that <i>P</i>_cv exhibits a valley-shaped variation with increasing acid concentration for all three kinds of acids, while the permeability (<i>μ</i>_e) declines gradually. Among the passivated samples, the SMCs passivated with HNO₃ deliver superior comprehensive soft-magnetic properties, achieving a 36% reduction in <i>P</i>_cv at 1000 kHz (<i>B</i>_m = 20 mT) compared with the untreated sample. Loss separation analysis further reveals that acid passivation mainly reduces the core loss by suppressing eddy current loss (<i>P</i>_e). Compared with H₃PO₄ and H₂C₂O₄, the strong oxidizing property of nitric acid accelerates the rapid formation of denser and more continuous insulating oxide films on powder surfaces, which effectively breaks intergranular conductive paths and remarkably reduces <i>P</i>_e dominating high-frequency <i>P</i>_cv. Meanwhile, the passivation layer derived from HNO₃ contains Fe₃O₄, whose partial ferromagnetic contribution is beneficial to alleviate magnetic dilution. As a result, the SMCs after proper HNO₃ passivation maintain a high <i>μ</i>_e, while achieve favorable electrical insulation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 30","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Zn doping on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of Co0.6Mg0.4Fe2-xZnxO4 spinel ferrites","authors":"V. K. Mukhiya,&nbsp;Sunil Kumawat,&nbsp;R. K. Kushwaha,&nbsp;Raghuvir Kumar,&nbsp;Saroj Dhaka,&nbsp;Abhishek Dubey,&nbsp;H. S. Mund,&nbsp;Vidyadhar Singh","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18654-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18654-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nanocrystalline Co_0.6Mg_0.4Fe_2-xZn_xO₄ (x = 0.0–0.4) spinel ferrites were synthesized by the sol–gel auto-combustion method to study the influence of Zn substitution on the structural and optical properties. X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of a single-phase cubic spinel structure (<i>Fd-3 m</i>) without secondary phase. Zn-incorporation produced a systematic lattice expansion (8.3939–8.4188 Å), increased crystallite size (21.89–25.26 nm), and reduced lattice strain and dislocation density, indicating enhanced structural ordering. Elemental mapping and XPS analysis confirmed homogeneous elemental distribution, phase purity, and the presence of Co²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions in the spinel lattice. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed strong ultraviolet absorption, while the optical bandgap exhibited a non-monotonic variation from 4.02 to 4.32 eV before decreasing to 4.22 eV with increasing Zn content. The observed behavior indicates that Zn substitution effectively tailors the structural and optical properties of Co-Mg ferrites for multifunctional devices applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 30","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ambient-atmosphere ultrasonic atomization of low-melting-point wood’s alloy powders: process optimization, atomization mechanism, and solderability","authors":"Dingying Ren,&nbsp;Haodi Li,&nbsp;Xiaofeng Yang,&nbsp;Hao Lan,&nbsp;Xiaoqiang Hu,&nbsp;Peng Yu,&nbsp;Qian Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18601-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18601-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Low-melting-point alloy powders are crucial for temperature-sensitive electronic packaging. However, preparing quaternary Wood’s alloy powders containing volatile elements (Pb, Cd) via traditional atomization often causes compositional deviation and oxidation. Herein, 13.3Sn–50Bi–26.7Pb–10Cd (wt%) Wood’s alloy powders were prepared using ambient-atmosphere ultrasonic atomization. The effects of ultrasonic amplitude, heating tank temperature, and vibration stage temperature on powder characteristics were systematically investigated. Furthermore, the atomization mechanism was studied using high-speed photography, and the solderability of the optimized powder on 304 stainless steel was evaluated. Results indicate that increasing ultrasonic amplitude from 20 to 30% regulates powder quality, decreasing the median diameter (D₅₀) from 77.78 to 71.07 μm, narrowing the size span from 2.29 to 1.96, and improving sphericity. An optimal heating tank temperature of 90–150 °C maintained low oxygen content (77–79 ppm) and good powder morphology, while temperatures above 150 °C increased oxygen content to 110 ppm and deteriorated sphericity. A room temperature vibration stage yielded the highest sphericity. Phase analysis confirmed the presence of β–Sn, Bi, Pb, Cd, and Pb₇Bi₃ intermetallics, with Pb₇Bi₃ acting as a solute sink for Bi to lower the melting temperature. High-speed imaging revealed that atomization is driven by the synergistic effect of Faraday capillary waves and acoustic cavitation, triggered by a critical liquid film thickness. Finally, joints soldered with the optimized powder exhibited an average shear strength of 25 ± 5.0 MPa, demonstrating excellent suitability for near-room temperature electronic interconnections.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 30","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interfacial charge-transfer dynamics in TiO2 photoanodes modified with PET-derived Cu-MOF precursors for dye-sensitized solar cells","authors":"A. M. B. Leite,&nbsp;H. O. da Cunha,&nbsp;A. Kosiha,&nbsp;J. C. G. Cancio,&nbsp;R. Suresh Babu,&nbsp;A. L. F. de Barros","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18629-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18629-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Hybrid TiO₂/Cu-MOF photoanodes derived from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were developed to investigate how Cu-MOF incorporation influences the optical response and interfacial charge-transfer processes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Cu-based metal–organic frameworks synthesized from PET-derived terephthalic acid were incorporated into TiO₂ at different loadings (5, 10, and 20 wt%). An optimal nominal Cu-MOF loading of 5 wt% produced a comparatively homogeneous hybrid interface with enhanced optical absorption and a more favorable interfacial impedance response. As a result, the short-circuit current density increased from 1.23 to 5.81 mA cm⁻², while the power conversion efficiency improved from 0.26% to 1.81%, corresponding to an approximately sevenfold increase relative to pristine TiO₂. Higher nominal Cu-MOF loadings led to less favorable surface morphology and lower photovoltaic performance. These findings demonstrate that PET-derived Cu-MOFs provide a sustainable strategy for tailoring semiconductor interfaces and improving the performance of hybrid photoanodes for photovoltaic applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10854-026-18629-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation between structural, free-volume features and electrical transport in Fe2O3–PbO–Bi2O3 glass–ceramic nanocomposites: a positron annihilation study","authors":"M. M. El-Desoky,&nbsp;Hamdy F. M. Mohamed,&nbsp;N. A. Gazouly,&nbsp;Shereef A. Fareed,&nbsp;E. E. Abdel-Hady,&nbsp;Yehya S. Elsharkawy","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18663-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18663-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The present study examines the relationship between structural free-volume characteristics and electrical transport properties in 30Fe₂O₃–xPbO–(70−x)Bi₂O₃ glass–ceramic nanocomposites with different PbO content (<i>x</i> = 5–20 mol%). We used positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), density measurements, and DC electrical conductivity to conduct a combined structural and transport analysis. XRD and TEM results indicate the formation of nanostructured glass–ceramic composites containing Fe-based nanocrystalline regions within an amorphous matrix. PALS analysis shows a steady decrease in the ortho-positronium lifetime (τ₃) along with an increase in its intensity (I₃). This pattern indicates a reduction in the characteristic size of accessible free-volume cavities together with a redistribution toward a larger relative population of positronium-forming sites. Because I₃ is affected by positronium formation probability, site accessibility, and local chemistry, it is not interpreted here as a direct quantitative measure of vacancy concentration or of a specific defect species. Electrical measurements show a decline in DC conductivity and a rise in activation energy, suggesting increased carrier localization. The observed PALS and conductivity trends provide a consistent structure–free-volume–transport correlation. The conduction behavior is discussed within a defect-influenced small-polaron hopping framework, while recognizing that PALS alone cannot independently prove the microscopic hopping pathway. The combined findings therefore provide evidence that changes in local free-volume and trapping environments accompany the macroscopic electrical-transport changes in these glass–ceramic nanocomposites.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring structural, linear, nonlinear optical, and electrical properties of PMMA–ZnTTBPc composites","authors":"Safia Abdullah R. Alharbi,&nbsp;Mohammed F. Radwan,&nbsp;Sahar Elnobi,&nbsp;Yasser A. M. Ismail,&nbsp;A. A. Abuelwafa","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18598-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18598-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this work, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)–zinc 2,9,16,23-tetra-tert-butyl-29H,31H-phthalocyanine (ZnTTBPc) composite films containing 0.2–1.2 wt% ZnTTBPc were fabricated by spin coating and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, and current–voltage (I–V) measurements. XRD and SEM analyses confirmed the predominantly amorphous nature of the films and revealed concentration-dependent morphological changes with increased aggregation at higher ZnTTBPc loadings. Optical investigations showed a gradual reduction in the optical band gap of PMMA with increasing ZnTTBPc content, accompanied by systematic variations in the characteristic Q- and B-band transition energies. The refractive index, extinction coefficient, and related optical constants increased with dopant concentration, while the dispersion behavior was analyzed using the Wemple–DiDomenico single-oscillator model. The estimated third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ⁽³⁾) and nonlinear refractive index (n₂), derived from linear optical parameters, increased systematically with ZnTTBPc concentration<b>.</b> Electrical characterization of Au/PMMA–ZnTTBPc/FTO heterostructures showed an increased rectification ratio and reduced series resistance following ZnTTBPc incorporation. Analysis of the current–voltage characteristics using empirical transport models suggested that the observed electrical behavior can be described by Ohmic, trap-influenced space-charge-limited conduction (SCLC)-like, Poole–Frenkel-type, and Schottky-type formalisms over different voltage ranges<b>.</b> Overall, ZnTTBPc incorporation systematically modified the structural, optical, and electrical characteristics of.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing the electrochemical performance and stability of MnFe2O4 using graphene oxide for supercapacitor electrodes","authors":"Jittana Jainak,&nbsp;Natjarat Sreejansook,&nbsp;Wanitcha Penglao,&nbsp;Surangkana Wannapop,&nbsp;Yaowamarn Chuminjak,&nbsp;Asanee Somdee","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18697-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18697-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This research investigates the synthesis of MnFe₂O₄ (MFO)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites via a microwave-assisted method involving three irradiation cycles followed by calcination at 500 °C, providing a simple and efficient route to evaluate the synergy between spinel ferrites and carbonaceous frameworks. This work studied the role of GO in enhancing the MFO-based capacitor. The study systematically examines the impact of GO loading (5–30 wt%) on the structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of the resulting electrode materials. Structural analysis through X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of the cubic spinel MFO phase in both pristine MFO and the MFO/GO composites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations suggested that MFO nanoparticles were anchored onto the GO sheets. Electrochemical evaluations via cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed that the 10 wt% GO/MFO composite achieved a higher specific capacitance than pure MFO, indicating a positive contribution from GO incorporation. BET surface area analysis revealed that the incorporation of GO increased the specific surface area of MFO by approximately 35%, providing more accessible electroactive sites and facilitating ion transport during the charge–discharge process. The composite exhibited a maximum operating voltage window of 1.25 V and achieved a maximum specific capacitance of 2,206.1 F/g in the three-electrode configuration and 82.1 F/g in the symmetric two-electrode device at the scan rate of 10 mV/s. Consistent with these findings, Galvanostatic Charge–Discharge (GCD) profiles showed longer discharge durations for the nanocomposite across the investigated current densities. Furthermore, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) revealed a substantial decrease in charge-transfer resistance, suggesting improved charge-transfer characteristics that may contribute to the enhanced electrochemical performance. The long-term durability of the electrode was evaluated through cycling stability tests. After 10,000 continuous charge–discharge cycles at a current density of 50 mA/g, the 10 wt% GO/MFO sample retained a capacitance retention of 78%, markedly higher than the 61% observed for pure MFO. The improved cycling stability is consistent with the overall electrochemical performance of the GO/MFO composite.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental investigation of a passive battery thermal management system using phase change material and aluminium enhancements","authors":"Prashanth Soundra Pandiyan,&nbsp;Devendra Dandotiya,&nbsp;Tarun M. Sai,&nbsp;Vinay S.,&nbsp;Lohith Prakash Pasupuleti,&nbsp;Abhay R. Karthik,&nbsp;Suman Maity,&nbsp;Anand K. Joshi","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18650-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18650-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Efficient thermal regulation is critical for the safety and longevity of high-power energy storage systems. This study investigates the performance of a passive battery thermal management system (BTMS) for a 18650 module having 1200 mAh capacity at a nominal voltage of 3.7 V utilising OM42 phase change material (PCM) integrated with a high-conductivity aluminium fin structure. The experimental setup comprised a battery simulator enclosed in a transparent polycarbonate tube, with an automated data acquisition system controlled via Arduino UNO microcontroller. The thermal behaviour was evaluated across a range of discharge rates from 0.5 to 3C. To ensure statistical robustness, temperature data were recorded as the average of three internal thermocouples over three independent trials for each condition. The results demonstrate that PCM-fin integration effectively modulates peak temperatures, maintaining the system below critical thresholds, even at a maximum 3C rate (64 °C). A distinct phase change plateau was observed, confirming the PCM’s ability to absorb significant latent heat during exothermic operation. Post-operation cooling cycles showed consistent recovery to ambient levels within 80 min, validating the reliability of the system for cyclic use. These findings suggest that the proposed BTMS provides a sustainable and effective solution for mitigating peak temperatures, delaying thermal escalation, and enhancing the operational stability of high-power battery modules.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of free volume and crystallinity on conductivity in PVC/NiO and PVC/NiO/TiO2 nanocomposites","authors":"S. Ningaraju,&nbsp;S. S. Mahesh,&nbsp;H. B. Ravikumar","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18626-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10854-026-18626-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To investigate free-volume controlled charge transport behaviour, nickel oxide (NiO) and hybrid NiO/TiO₂ (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles incorporated poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) polymer nanocomposites are prepared. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveal that NiO incorporation reduces free volume and enhances crystallinity, whereas NiO/TiO₂ hybrid fillers increase free volume and promote amorphous phase formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms the structural disorders in PVC/NiO and PVC/NiO/TiO₂ nanocomposites. The critical free volume (V_i^*) was quantified using the Miyamoto–Shibayama model and correlated with DC and AC conductivity. The PVC/NiO/TiO₂ hybrid nanocomposites exhibit two orders of magnitude higher electrical conductivity than PVC/NiO systems. This suggests the dominant role of interfacial disorderness and free-volume expansion in enhancing charge transport. AC conductivity analysis indicates ion migration in PVC/NiO and localized hopping conduction in PVC/NiO/TiO₂ systems. These results establish a systematic correlation between microstructure and charge transport behaviour in polymer nanocomposites with hybrid nanofiller incorporation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}