In the present paper, we report electrical conductivity and dielectric studies on the composites of conducting polyaniline (PANI) with crystalline semiconducting ZnS powder, wherein PANI has been taken as inclusion and ZnS crystallites as the host matrix. From the studies, it has been observed that the value of room temperature d.c. conductivity of the composites with volume fraction of PANI > 0.65 shows an unusual behaviour wherein, conductivity values of the composites exceed that of PANI itself with maximum value as high as 6 times that of PANI at the volume fraction of 0.85. A similar trend has also been observed for the real and imaginary parts of complex dielectric constant values of the composites. This unusual behaviour in the d.c. conductivity and dielectric properties has been attributed to the enhancement in the degree of crystallinity of PANI as a consequence of its interfacial interaction with ZnS matrix. The results of optical microscopy show coating of PANI all around the ZnS particles. The temperature dependent conductivity studies suggest the quasi one-dimensional VRH conduction in PANI as well as its composites with ZnS. FTIR and XRD studies have also been reported.

Nanocomposites of mixed oxides of iron and neodymium in polymer matrix of anilineformaldehyde are reported. The composites have been obtained by treating the aqueous solution of aniline, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde with halide of iron and neodymium oxide. The infra-red spectra show broad peaks at ∼ 590 cm^-1 and at ∼ 610 cm^-1 due to the presence of oxides of both iron and neodymium. In heated samples, the absorption peaks due to metal oxides are better resolved. A broad and strong peak in XRD spectra at 2𝜃 value of 35.69920 corresponds to spinel 𝛾-Fe₂O₃. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrum for unheated sample gives Mössbauer parameters, i.e. isomer shift (𝛿), quadrupole splitting (𝛥 𝐸) and effective magnetic field (H_eff). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs reveal well dispersed particles at different magnifications. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) studies indicate that the ferrite nanoparticles exhibit characteristics of ferromagnetism.