Preparation,structural, and electrical studies of polyaniline/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites

Polyaniline/ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites were synthesized by a simple and inexpensive one‐step in situ polymerization method in the presence of ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles. The structural, morphological, and electrical properties of the samples were characterized by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). WAXD and SEM revealed the formation of polyaniline/ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposites. Infrared spectroscopy indicated that there was some interaction between the ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and polyaniline. The dc electrical conductivity measurements were carried in the temperature range of 80 to 300 K. With increase in the doping concentration of ZnFe₂O₄, the conductivity of the nanocomposites found to be decreasing from 5.15 to 0.92 Scm⁻¹ and the temperature dependent resistivity follows ln ρ(T) ∼ T^−1/2 behavior. The nanocomposites (80 wt % of ZnFe₂O₄) show a more negative magnetoresistance compared with that of pure polyaniline (PANI). These results suggest that the interaction between the polymer matrix PANI and zinc nanoparticles take place in these nanocomposites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011