This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the low frequency-based electrical characteristics of ferrite composites, exploring the influence of morphology on tunning and optimizing dielectric and conductivity relaxation. Specifically, composites of PANI: Sr CoxZnxFe12−2xO19 in 1:4 ratio by weight, with varying levels of substitution x = 0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 were synthesized using the physical blending method. X-ray diffraction analysis of composites shows the existence of M-type hexagonal and PANI particles, along with some secondary phases in all synthesized samples. The morphology of composites revealed disk flower-like and hexagonal platelet-type structures of PANI and hexagonal ferrite, respectively. Substituting Co–Zn ions induced a non-linear increase in grain size from 0.781 to 1.566 μm, calculated using ImageJ software. The dielectric and electrical properties of composites were examined over the frequency range of 20 Hz to 2 MHz. The replacement of Fe ions with Co–Zn ions resulted in a non-linear variation in conductivity and is maximum for FP3 (1.33 × 10−2 Ω−1m−1) at 2 MHz. The complex impedance spectra deviated from an ideal Debye type and were modeled using an equivalent circuit encompassing resistances of grain boundaries and grains, grain capacitance, and a constant phase element. Modulus and impedance spectra analysis illustrated the contribution of both grain and grain boundaries in their respective relaxations. The simulation of impedance parameters in EIS software elucidated a substantial value of Cg = 290 μF for FP1, which aligned with the large-sized grain observed in FESEM micrographs. © 2024 Korean Physical Society

Keywords: Electric modulus, Impedance analysis, Loss tangent, Morphology