Synthesis, thermal and dielectric investigations of PVDF/PVP/Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 polymer nanocomposite films

This study aims to prepare and examine the structure, thermal and dielectric properties of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 nanocomposite films. The data were collected via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dielectric measurements. The XRD spectrum of the Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 ferrite sample showed a spinel crystal structure with an average size 15 nm. In the X-ray diffraction spectra of the PVDF-Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 polymer nanocomposites, beta-phase diffraction peak appeared at 2 theta = 0.2 degrees. SEM images of all the nanocomposite films exhibited a homogeneous distribution of nanostructured Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4. FTIR spectra depicted the absorption bands for alpha, beta and gamma-phase of PVDF as well as the carbonyl group of PVP. From TGA analysis, the activation energy for thermal decomposition decreased from 285.73 to 248.97 kJ/mol.K. Besides, there is a decrease in both Delta H and Delta G values with an increase in the Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 concentration. The static dielectric constant (epsilon(s)), the high-frequency dielectric constant (epsilon(infinity)) and the dielectric strength (Delta epsilon) for these nanocomposites were lower than the pure PVDF/PVP film. The DC conductivity values were 2.27 x 10(-14), 1.63 x 10(-8), 2.04 x 10(-10) and 1.61 x 10(-8) S/cm for 0.0, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 wt% of Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4.

Automated summary

This study prepared and analyzed the structure, thermal, and dielectric properties of PVDF/PVP/Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 nanocomposite films. The results showed that thermal decomposition activation energy decreased with the increase in Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 content, impacting the dielectric constants and conductivity values of the nanocomposites.