Synthesis of CuFe2O4-ZnO nanocomposites with enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption properties

The Nanocomposites of CuFe2O4/ZnO have been synthesized by two steps wet chemical coprecipitation method under optimum condition. The crystal structure, particle size, and morphology of the synthesized samples have been characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy techniques. The XRD measurements have depicted the formation of required phases of nanocomposites and no impurity phases are being observed. The FTIR analysis confirm the presence of vibration bands at the surface of synthesized materials. The magnetic properties have been measured by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) under applied field of +/- 2 T, all the samples except pristine ZnO have shown superparamagnetic behaviour for all concentration with decreasing saturation magnetization. The electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption properties have been studied by reflectometer under frequency range of 2-10 GHz. The maximum absorption of 42.35 dB has been achieved at frequency of 8.35 GHz with 30% ZnO. Moreover with concentration >= 40% of ZnO whole frequency band below -10 dB has been covered. The observed results show that these nanocomposites have excellent microwaves absorption properties due to the compatibility of dielectric and magnetic properties. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.