LAUSR

Abstract Zinc-cobalt oxide nanoparticles were fabricated by hydrothermal method. The polypyrrole and zinc cobalt oxide (PPy/ZCO) composites were synthesized by using in-situ chemical polymerization method. These composites were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) which confirmed the crystalline nature of the PPy/ZCO composites. The scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray diffraction (EDX) confirmed the spherical structured particles of composites and the chemical composition, respectively. Electrical characterizations of PPy/ZCO composites were analyzed as a function of ZCO concentration in the frequency range of 102–106 Hz. The alternating current (ac) conductivity versus frequency graph for PPy/ZCO composites showed a direct current (dc) plateau in the frequency range of 102–104 Hz, indicating an isolated network within the composites. At the higher frequencies, there was an increase in ac conductivity obeying the universal dynamic response (UDR). The UDR suggested that the conduction in the PPy/ZCO composites was due to hopping along the polymer chains due to filler nanoparticles. The nature of response of real and imaginary part of impedance (Nyquist plot) revealed that the conduction has attribution from the effects of grains and grain boundaries.