The Effect of ZnO nanoparticles Filler on Complex Permittivity of ZnO-PCL Nanocomposite at Microwave Frequency

Abubakar Yakubu *

Departament of Physics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Zulkifly Abbas

Departament of Physics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Nor Azowa Ibrahim

Department of Chemistry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Ahmad Fahad

Institute of Mathematical Research, INSPEM, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

ZnO Nanoparticle was succesfully prepared by microwave irradiation method. The nano particles were then used as filler in the ZnO-PCL nanocomposites. The composites were prepared via the melt blend technique. The effect of the different percentages of the ZnO nanoparticles filler on the complex permittivity of the ZnO-PCL nanocomposite was investigated using themagnitudes of the reflection coefficient from the open ended coaxial sensors to determine complex permittivity of a sample under test.The different percentages used are 25%, 35%, 45%, 50% and 70% ZnO nano fillers. The result from the measurement showed that the nano filler significantly affected the value of the complex permittivity of the ZnO-PCL nanocomposites. Amongst other observations, its was found that the dielectric constant of the material under test (MUT) increases as the filler content increases. The result also showed that the dielectric constant at 8 GHz is higher than the dielectric constant at 12 GHz for all samples used. Measurement result showed that the 70% ZnO nano filler produced a mean complex permittivity of (Ɛr=4.07-j0.71).

Keywords: Nanocomposites, nanoparticles, open ended coaxial probe, complex permittivity


How to Cite

Yakubu, Abubakar, Zulkifly Abbas, Nor Azowa Ibrahim, and Ahmad Fahad. 2015. “The Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles Filler on Complex Permittivity of ZnO-PCL Nanocomposite at Microwave Frequency”. Physical Science International Journal 6 (3):196-202. https://doi.org/10.9734/PSIJ/2015/16692.