Effect of NiFe2O4 contents on the structural, optical and electrical properties of PEO/CMC-NiFe2O4 nanocomposite

In this study the casting method was used to prepare new polymeric nanocomposites by filling a polymer blend based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) by adding different calculated weight ratios of nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe2O4) which were prepared by solvothermal technique. The XRD and ATR-FTIR measurements confirmed the formation of NiFe2O4 NPs, and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed that NiFe2O4 NPs have a semispherical shape. The ATR-FTIR and XRD affirmed the miscibility and complexation between a pure blend of PEO/CMC and PEO/CMCNiFe2O4 nanocomposites. Significant structural, optical, and morphological changes were seen in PEO/CMC/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites. These changes, in turn, caused a shift in the absorption edge toward a lower wavelength, which resulted in a drop in the energy gap value. The AC electrical conductivity (σac), dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε"), and the dielectric moduli (M' and M").