Co doped ZnO reinforced PEMA/PMMA composite: Structural, thermal, dielectric and electrical properties‏ for electrochemical applications

In this study, ZnO: Co2+ nanoparticles were synthesized by simple chemical precipitation method. The PMMA and PEMA with Co doped ZnO NPs were successfully synthesized by casting method. The synthesized films have been characterised via different techniques. The interaction of the Co doped ZnO with the polymer mixture was recognized via XRD and FTIR. The thermal behavior of the films was measured by the DSC and TGA analysis, and it was observed that the Tg was low for the highest conducting polymer material. The conductivity and dielectric measurement of the pure PEMA/PMMA doped with various concentrations of ZnO/Co was investigated at a frequency range of 10 Hz to 1 MHz and different temperatures. It was found that the nanocomposites showed a significantly increased value of the έ and ε'' with an increase in the doping concentration of ZnO/Co as compared to pure PEMA/PMMA and also exhibited low έ and ε'' values over a wide frequencies range. The frequency exponent (s) was well fitted with the offered correlation relation of the barrier hopping model. Hence, the results presented in the current study demonstrate that the PEMA/PMMA/Co doped ZnO polymer electrolyte system seems to be a promising candidate as an electrolyte cum separator for energy storage devices. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of ZnO: Co2+ nanoparticles by simple chemical precipitation method.•Nanocomposite films of PEMA/PMMA/ZnO–Co NPs were successfully synthesized by casting method.•The FT-IR spectra confirm the interaction between the functional groups of polymer blend and Co doped ZnO NPs.•From TGA results the thermal stability for films prepared was improved after addition ZnO/Co NPs.•The conductivity showed that all nanocomposites films exhibited improved as compared to pure PEMA/PMMA.