Magnetically induced anisotropy of electric permittivity in the PDMS ferromagnetic gel

A polymer ferromagnetic gel is an assembly of ferromagnetic nanoparticles embedded in a gel. The finely distributed magnetic particles of iron oxide (Fe3O4) were suspended, due to adhesive forces, in the flexible matrix (poly(dimethyl siloxane) PDMS). The mean diameter of the suspended nanoparticles, equal to 8.9 nm, was determined by means of a vibrating sample magnetometer. The dispersion of the electric permittivity, studied in the frequency range of 400 Hz–5 MHz, revealed the maxima at approximately 92 kHz and 2.5 MHz. The application of the homogenous magnetic field, ranging from 0 mT to 500 mT induced the anisotropy of the electric permittivity for the mutual parallel orientation of the magnetic field, electric field and the axis of the sample. For the magnetic induction B = 500 mT the highest decrease in the electric permittivity and the shift of the maximum from 2.5 toward 2.9 MHz were found.