Synthesis and characterization of polypyrrole-BaFe12O19 nanocomposite

Polypyrrole-BaFe12O19 nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by an in situ polymerization of pyyrole in the presence of synthesized BaFe12O19 nanoparticles. Structural, morphological, electrical and magnetic properties of the nanocomposite were performed by XRD, FT-IR, TEM, TGA, VSM and ac conductivity measurements respectively. XRD analysis reveals the inorganic phase as bariumhexaferrite and TGA shows about 22 wt% loading of hexaferrite in the nanocomposite. FT-IR analysis indicates a successful conjugation of hexaferrite particles with polypyrrole. Magnetization measurements show that polypyrrole coating decreases the saturation magnetization of BaFe12O19 significantly. This reduction has been explained by the pinning of the surface spins by the possible adsorption of non-magnetic ions during the polymerization process. Interactions between the hard and impurity phases, determined using the Stoner-Wohlfarth theory, reveal that particles' single domain character and the coating destabilizes the remanence state of the polypyrrole-BaFe12O19 nanocomposite. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.