Investigation of Addition of Manganese Ferrite Nanoparticles (MnFe₂O₄ NPs) on Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polyethylene Glycol Blend for Magnetoelectronics and Optoelectronics Applications

In this study, manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe₂O₄ NPs) were successfully prepared using the solvothermal method. XRD, HRTEM, FT-IR, and VSM techniques were used to characterize pure MnFe₂O₄ NPs. After that, the prepared MnFe₂O₄ NPs were added with different compositions to PVA/PEG polymer blend using a simple casting method. The XRD and FT-IR confirmed the insertion of MnFe₂O₄ NPs inside the PVA/PEG blend. Optical parameters affirmed that the addition of MnFe₂O₄ decreases the optical band gap for PVA/PEG blend samples. FESEM and cross-section examination evident that the incorporation of MnFe₂O₄ NPs creates small pores inside PVA/PEG blend and also increased its surface roughness. Dielectric properties were measured at room temperature in the range (0.1 Hz–20 MHz). Both dielectric constant and dielectric loss were shown to decrease with increasing frequency while increasing with increasing MnFe₂O₄ NPs. Loss tangent (tanδ) showed a peak with frequency, indicating that these nanocomposites were dielectrically relaxed, with relaxation time decreasing with increasing MnFe₂O₄ NPs. The results showed that increasing the concentration of MnFe₂O₄ NPs leads to increase electrical conductivity. VSM results showed a great enhancement of magnetic properties of PVA/PEG with increasing MnFe₂O₄ NPs which makes these nanocomposites were perfectly used in magnetoelectronics and optoelectronics devices.