Investigations on the electrical conductivity and complex dielectric permittivity of a ferrofluid subjected to the action of a polarizing magnetic field

•Complex impedance measurements on a kerosene-based ferrofluid with magnetite particles were performed;.•The measurements were done in the presence of a polarizing magnetic field, H;.•The conductivity mechanism in ferrofluid was explained using both the Mott's variable-range-hopping model and the correlated barrier hopping model;.•The hopping distance of charge carriers, energy barrier height and the hopping frequency were determined;.•The dielectric behavior is explained in terms of the Schwarz relaxation process;.