Exploring the promising frontiers of barium hexaferrite and barium titanate composites for electromagnetic shielding applications

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive synthesis and meticulous examination of barium hexaferrite (BHF), barium titanate (BT), and their respective nanocomposites, unveiling their potential in specific applications, including electromagnetic interference shielding. The successful formation of BHF and BT was confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, revealing distinct absorption peaks indicative of the tetragonal configuration of BT and the BHF’s crystal structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) depicted the unique morphologies and dispersions of particles in the synthesized nanocomposites, with BHF appearing larger (~ 82 nm) than BT (~ 50 nm). Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) findings exhibited an increased resistance to demagnetization with the addition of BT, despite a slight decline at 75% BT concentration due to the non-magnetic nature of BT dominating. Uniquely, the study presented an in-depth analysis of the composites’ conductivity, detailing their non-monotonic behavior across a frequency range. A detailed investigation into the complex permittivity and permeability revealed the composite’s enhanced ability to store and dissipate both electrical and magnetic energy, a function influenced by the concentrations of BT and BHF. A pivotal highlight of this research was the significant achievement of a reflection loss (RL) value of − 45 dB at 9.3 GHz for the composite with 75% BHF, suggesting the composite’s potential as an effective microwave absorber. This study represents a significant step toward designing and optimizing nanocomposites for specific applications in the realm of electromagnetic materials.