Striking multiple synergies in novel three-phase fluoropolymer nanocomposites by combining titanium dioxide and graphene oxide as hybrid fillers

In this study, novel three-phase polymer nanocomposites comprising of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and graphene oxide (GO) were prepared using colloidal blending. The PVDF/TiO2/GO nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, optical microscopy, SEM, AFM and contact angle analysis. The dielectric properties of these three-phase polymer nanocomposites were investigated using broadband dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 50 Hz-20 MHz and temperature in the range 40-150 degrees C. The FTIR and XRD results infer good interaction between the constituents of nanocomposites. The microscopic studies infer homogeneous dispersion and distribution of TiO2 nanoparticles and GO within the PVDF matrix. A notable improvement in the thermal stability of PVDF was observed by the addition of TiO2 and GO as hybrid fillers. The dielectric performance of PVDF/TiO2/GO nanocomposite films was significantly improved as compared to PVDF/TiO2 (90/10) nanocomposite film. The dielectric constant increases from 18.57 (50 Hz, 150 degrees C) for PVDF/TiO2 (90/10) nanocomposite film to 165.16 (50 Hz, 150 degrees C) for PVDF/TiO2/GO nanocomposite film containing 7 wt% TiO2 and 3 wt% GO loading. In addition, the dielectric loss also increases from 1.71 (50 Hz, 150 degrees C) for PVDF/TiO2 (90/10) nanocomposite film to 3.68 (50 Hz, 150 degrees C) for PVDF/TiO2/GO nanocomposite film containing 7 wt% TiO2 and 3 wt% GO loading. These intriguing properties of PVDF/TiO2/GO nanocomposites could shed some light on the incorporation of different types of hybrid fillers in a suitable polymer matrix for the development of novel three-phase nanocomposites as intelligent materials for embedded passive applications.