Exploring the functional properties of ternary Ag@PEG@Mg-ZnFe2O4 nanocomposite for low-frequency electronics, and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) applications

Abstract

The pursuit of high-performance low-frequency electronics and magnetically tunable devices has increased the demand for multifunctional nanocomposites with controlled magnetic and dielectric properties. This study explores the potential of ternary Ag@PEG@Mg-ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite in comparison to pristine Mg-ZnFe₂O₄, Ag@Mg-ZnFe₂O_4, and PEG@Mg-ZnFe₂O₄ for low-frequency energy storage and microwave applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to study the phase purity and structural properties of the binary and ternary nanocomposites. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were utilized to confirm carbon-related functional groups and the electronic state of silver in the nanocomposite, respectively. The morphological analysis disclosed the role of polyethylene glycol in controlling the agglomeration of silver and Mg-ZnFe₂O₄ phases in the nanocomposite. Functional properties of Ag@PEG@Mg-ZnFe₂O₄ exhibit substantial dielectric permittivity with minimal tangent loss (δ) and low charge transfer resistance, alongside soft-magnetic superparamagnetic-like behavior with very low coercivity. Given the relevance of magnetic composites in microwave communication applications, ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy was conducted up to 40 GHz with an external magnetic field applied. Results indicate that the ternary Ag@PEG@Mg-ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite maintains a response comparable to pure Mg-ZnFe₂O₄. This investigation envisions the dual use of the synthesized ternary Ag@PEG@Mg-ZnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite in low-frequency energy storage electronics and ferromagnetic microwave communication applications.