Enhancement of Structural, Dielectric and Mechanical Properties of Ps: Fe Doped ZnO Based Polymer Nanocomposites

The aim of the presented work is to study the dielectric and mechanical properties of polystyrene filled with different concentrations of Fe doped ZnO synthesized in the form of casted films. The synthesis of Fe doped ZnO nanoparticles were carried out by combustion method. The phase composition of the samples was determined using X-ray diffraction measurements. The morphology of the received materials was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Well dispersion of Fe doped ZnO nanoparticles in the polystyrene texture and formation of some cluster were observed. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss were studied at different frequencies. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss decrease with increase of frequency. Also the AC conductivity was measured to study the conduction mechanism in the presented nanocomposite films. The activation energy values were calculated and it was decreased with increasing the Fe doped ZnO nano filler. The values of elastic moduli and micro-hardness increase as Fe doped ZnO content increases due to good interfacial adhesion and high cross-linking density in Fe doped ZnO/Ps nanocomposite films. The results verified from the mechanical measurements confirmed that obtained from the dielectric characterization.