Magnetically recoverable CoFe1.9Gd0.1O4 ferrite/polyaniline nanocomposite synthesized via green approach for radar band absorption

The gadolinium substituted cobalt ferrite (CoFe1.9Gd0.1O4) nanoparticles and CoFe1.9Gd0.1O4/Polyaniline (PANI) microwave absorber were synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion technique using lemon juice and in-situ polymerization method respectively. X-ray patterns confirmed the formation of single phase cubic structure. The crystallite size of the synthesized CoFe1.9Gd0.1O4 nanoparticles are within the range of 15-68 nm. The saturation magnetization of CoFe1.9Gd0.1O4 ferrite/Polyaniline (PANI) composite was reduced due to nonmagnetic PANI. The reflection loss for microwave absorbing properties of CoFe1.9Gd0.1O4 ferrite nanoparticles and CoFe1.9Gd0.1O4/PANI nanocomposite were investigated and minimum value of reflection loss was found to be -16.85 dB at 13.52 GHz for nanoparticles of thickness 2.5 mm and -25.59 dB at 11.92 GHz for CoFe1.9Gd0.1O4/PANI nanocomposite of thickness 2.0 mm) respectively. The prepared samples have low density, high surface resistivity and enhanced attenuation constant. The nanocomposite exhibits excellent absorption performance over a broad band range in the radar band.

Automated summary

Gadolinium substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles and ferrite/PANI microwave absorber were successfully synthesized using sol-gel auto combustion technique and in-situ polymerization method, showing excellent absorption performance in a broad band range in the radar band.