Structural and Dielectric Properties of PVDF/6A Clay Nanocomposites

The paper describes the study of structural and dielectric properties of PVDF blended with organically modified clay. The PVDF/clay nanocomposites are prepared by simple melt mixing method. The prepared nanocomposites are characterized for structural and dielectric properties. The structural characterization done using X-ray diffraction and infra-red spectroscopy techniques indicates the crystallization of ferroelectric beta phase in nanocomposites. The dielectric study shows the composition-dependent significant enhancement in the dielectric permittivity, particularly in the low-frequency region. The enhancement in the dielectric permittivity is explained on the basis of increase in the conductivity and formation of minicapacitor-like network in the nanocomposites. The dielectric loss spectra of PVDF shows two relaxations corresponding to the glass transition temperature and crystalline relaxation. In case of PVDF/Clay nanocomposites, the dielectric relaxation corresponding to the crystalline relaxation completely disappears, which is attributed to the dielectric manifestation of ferroelectric beta phase in nanocomposites. The observed dielectric permittivity data can be very well fitted using Vo-Shi model, which takes contribution of interphase to the dielectric permittivity. The enhancement in the dielectric permittivity along with ferroelectric beta phase in PVDF/clay nanocomposites brings the potential application in energy storage devices.

Automated summary

The study focuses on the structural and dielectric properties of PVDF blended with organically modified clay, demonstrating a significant enhancement in dielectric permittivity along with the presence of ferroelectric beta phase in the nanocomposites, which shows potential application in energy storage devices.