Investigation on Structural, Electrical and Dielectric Properties of Polyaniline/ZrO2 Composite

The effect of ZrO 2 nanoparticles on the structural, electrical, and dielectric properties of polyaniline was studied. ZrO 2 nanoparticles with an average size of 8 nm were synthesized by a simple precipitation method and their tetragonal and monoclinic crystalline phase was confirmed. Polyaniline and its nanocomposite with ZrO 2 have been synthesized by chemical oxidation method using CH 3 COOH as a doping agent and APS as an oxidant. The synthesized composites were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, AC conductivity, dielectric and impedance spectroscopy. In Nyquist plots, systematic decrement in the semicircle size was observed with growth of ZrO 2 content. The dielectric constant in the PANI/ZrO 2 composite has been increased with an increase in weight content of ZrO 2 in PANI matrix and exhibited the Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars effect.