Continually enhanced dielectric constant of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) with BaTiO3@Poly(vinylidene fluoride) core-shell nanostructure filling

An effective material with a core-shell structure was fabricated and characterized for use as an effective filler in a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix nanocomposite. Barium titanate nanoparticles (nBT) (similar to 100 nm) were coated by a PVDF polymer layer of thickness similar to 7 nm. The fraction of the beta-PVDF phase was slightly enhanced compared with that of the pure PVDF polymer. The nBT@PVDF core-shell filler particles were used in the composites. Their agglomeration was reduced and a homogeneous dispersion of these particles was achieved. Accordingly, the nBT@PVDF filler can improve the dielectric properties of the PVDF polymer matrix nano-composites. The nBT@PVDF/PVDF nanocomposite (nBT volume fraction (f(nBT)) = 0.47) yielded significantly enhanced dielectric constant (epsilon ' = 121.02) and decreased dielectric loss (tan delta = 0.025). The epsilon ' values were consistent with those estimated based on the effective medium theory. The tan delta and epsilon ' values of the nBT@PVDF/PVDF nanocomposites were respectively lower and higher than those of the nBT/PVDF composites at the same f(nBT) due to the blocking layer of the PVDF shell and the homogeneous dispersion of nBT particles, respectively.

Automated summary

The nBT@PVDF core-shell filler particles with improved dispersion can significantly enhance the dielectric properties of PVDF matrix nano-composites.