Structural, fabrication and enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/zirconium substituted cobalt ferrite (Co0·5Zr0·5Fe2O4) nanocomposites

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Condensed matter, 2021-03, Vol.605, p.412784, Article 412784
• Main Authors: Gunasekaran, S., Thanrasu, K., Manikandan, A., Durka, M., Dinesh, A., Anand, S., Shankar, S., Slimani, Y., Almessiere, M.A., Baykal, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Adsorption; Cobalt ferrites; Electromagnetic radiation; Ferrites; Frequency ranges; Graphene; Hydrothermal; Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties; Microwave absorption; Nanocomposites; Network analysers; Raman spectroscopy; rGO/Co0·5Zr0·5Fe2O4; Structure; Studies; Substitutes; Surface analysis (chemical); Surface chemistry; Thickness; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Zirconium oxides
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physb.2020.412784

In this work, zirconium (Zr) substituted cobalt ferrite, Co0·5Zr0·5Fe2O4 (CoZrFe) and its composite with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were synthesized by a two-step process. The structural and surface analysis of the composites were investigated by powder XRD, Raman analysis, TEM, and XPS. The magnetic properties of rGO/Co0·5Zr0·5Fe2O4 (rGO-CoZrFe) nanocomposites (NCs) were also studied by using VSM analysis. The rGO-CoZrFe NCs results showed that the Zr doped CoFe2O4 NPs were formed and uniformly wrapped on the surfaces of rGO. Microwave adsorption studies of rGO-CoZrFe NCs were performed using a vector network analyzer in 2–18 GHz frequency range. Minimum Reflection Loss (RL) of the prepared rGO-CoZrFe NCs were reached −31.89 dB at 4.2 GHz frequency range for the thickness of 5 mm pellet, the effective absorption bandwidth (RL less than −10 dB) is up to 4.0 GHz with very small thickness of 1 mm. This result indicates that these novel rGO-CoZrFe NCs will be potential candidates for efficient material in the electromagnetic wave adsorption filed. •Co0·5Zr0·5Fe2O4 and its composite with rGO were synthesized by two step process.•Nanocomposites were investigated by powder XRD, Raman analysis, TEM and XPS.•rGO/Co0·5Zr0·5Fe2O4 NCs indicated that Co0·5Zr0·5Fe2O4 were formed and uniformly roofed on the rGO.•Microwave adsorption studies were performed using vector network analyzer in 2–18 GHz frequency range.•rGO/Co0·5Zr0·5Fe2O4 NCs will be potential candidate for electromagnetic wave adsorption filed.