Effect of Li4Ti5O12 Nanoparticles on Structural, Optical and Thermal Properties of PVDF/PEO Blend

Lithium titanate nanoparticles Li4Ti5O12 NPs were prepared by the solid-state reaction method using a stoichiometric ratio of lithium carbonate Li2CO3 and titanium oxide nanoparticles TiO2 NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of Li4Ti5O12 NPs. High-resolution transmission electron microscope showed like-cube shape of Li4Ti5O12 NPs with an average particle size 42 nm. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (80/20 wt/wt%) blend doped with concentrations 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 7.0 wt% of Li4Ti5O12 NPs were prepared using casting technique. Structural, optical and thermal properties of polymer nanocomposites were investigated using XRD, high-resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM), energy dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The XRD and FT-IR data showed that there was an interaction between the blend sample and Li4Ti5O12 NPs. Also, the addition of Li4Ti5O12 NPs decreased the degree of crystallinity of the blend sample. HRSEM images revealed that the presence of Li4Ti5O12 NPs changed the surface morphology of the nanocomposites and gave rise to crystalline domains up to 5 wt% Li4Ti5O12 NPs, then deteriorations was occurred.