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In the present investigation, pure and different concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, 10%) of Ag-doped Co3O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized by the sonochemical method and subsequent calcination at different high temperatures. Structural, optical, morphological properties and elemental composition of synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. According to X-ray diffraction results, no peaks related to silver or silver oxide were observed in the diffractograms of doped samples. Blue shift was observed in the absorption curve of Ag-doped Co3O4 nanoparticles compared to undoped Co3O4 nanoparticles. From transmission electron microscopy measurements, 2%, 4% and 6% Ag-doped Co3O4 nanoparticles thermal annealed at 500 °C exhibit sphere-like and irregularly structured morphology, while 10% Ag-doped Co3O4 nanoparticles have a rhombohedral-like, hexagonal and spherical morphology. The dielectric constant value (ɛʹ) was found to decrease with increasing frequency and it can be explained by Maxwell–Wagner model. The value of the dielectric constant increased with increasing of temperature from 25 to 100 °C and the highest value was observed for Ag0.1Co2.9O4/PVA sample at 100 °C temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]