A series of organic‐inorganic hybrid of polyaniline (PANI)/copper‐alumina (Cu‐Al2O3) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization technique. The structural, morphological and thermal properties of PANI with different contents of nano Cu‐Al2O3 were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high‐resolution transmission electron microscope (HR‐TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimteric analysis. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss and the AC conductivity were measured using a dielectric analyzer in a frequency ranging from 100 Hz to 1 MHz. Also, current (I)‐voltage (V) characteristics and gas sensing performance of the composites were studied in detail. The FTIR spectra of composite exhibited the IR band of nanoparticles in the macromolecular chain of PANI. The XRD pattern showed the systematic arrangement of Cu‐Al2O3 particles in the molecular structure of polyaniline. The SEM and TEM images indicated that the nanoparticles were sheathed by polyaniline. DSC results showed that incorporation of Cu‐Al2O3 accelerated the glass transition temperature of PANI. TG analysis demonstrated the enhancement in thermal stability of PANI/Cu‐Al2O3 nanocomposite relative to the base polymer. Conductivity studies showed that both AC and DC conductivity, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss increased with increase in the concentration of nanoparticles up to 5 wt%. Similarly, the ammonia gas sensing behavior of nanocomposites was also improved by the addition of Cu‐Al2O3 nanoparticles.

The current article aims to develop poly (butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) nanocomposites with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties by incorporating neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) nanoparticles between the PBMA chains. The morphological, thermal and structural profiles of the PBMA nanocomposites reinforced with different loading of Nd2O3 nanoparticles were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The SEM images revealed that the morphology of the PBMA was significantly influenced by the insertion of Nd2O3. The uniform dispersion of Nd2O3 in the polymer composite was visible at 5 wt% loading of nano-filler. The main crystalline peaks of Nd2O3 nanoparticles in the amorphous PBMA structure were revealed by the X-ray diffraction analysis. The thermal stability of PBMA was greatly enhanced by the dispersion of Nd2O3 in the PBMA matrix. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites were measured and both results showed the enhanced mechanical properties of PBMA due to the reinforcement of Nd2O3 nanoparticles. The various parameters affecting the increased tensile strength of composite by the incorporation of nanoparticles were studied by different theoretical modeling. The electrical properties such as dielectric constant and the dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) of PBMA nanocomposites were enhanced with the addition of nanoparticles. Also, the DC conductivity of polymer composites was estimated and the applicability of different theoretical models for predicting the conductivity properties of PBMA/Nd2O3 nanocomposites were examined.

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