Chemically modified graphene/P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) electroactive polymer nanocomposites with superior electromechanical performance

Graphene nanosheets (GNS) were functionalized with 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)-aniline to achieve homogeneous dispersion and favorable interfacial interactions in the poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluorethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) terpolymer matrix. The effects of functionalized GNS (FGNS) on the dielectric, mechanical, and electromechanical actuation properties of the FGNS/P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) terpolymer nanocomposites were systematically evaluated. It was found that incorporating FGNS into the P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) terpolymer, even at low loading levels (e.g., similar to 1.0 vol%), increased the dielectric constant, Young's modulus, tensile strength, and electromechanical actuation performance of the resulting FGNS/P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) terpolymer nanocomposites drastically.