Development of Multiferroism in PVDF with CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles

Thin films of some polymer-ceramic nanomultiferroic composites (in 0-3 connectivity) of compositions (1-x) PVDF-xCoFe(2)O(4) (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.5) have been fabricated through a solution casting route. Based on X-ray diffraction pattern and data, basic crystal structure and unit cell parameters were obtained. The surface morphology of the materials was studied using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. Structural investigation confirms the presence of a polymeric electro-active beta-phase of matrix (PVDF) and nano filler spinel phase of the incorporated nano-ceramics. The observed SEM micrographs confirm that the nanoparticles are well distributed in the PVDF matrix without any agglomeration with a lesser spherulitic microstructure. The flexible nano-composites fabricated with polymer (PVDF) and CoFe2O4 provide high permittivity (relative dielectric constant) and low loss tangent. An impedance spectroscopy (IS) technique was employed to study the effect of grain and grain boundary in the resistive properties of the composite materials in terms of electric circuit. The study of AC conductivity as a function of frequency follows Jonscher's power law. The improved conductivity and dielectric, magnetic, and measured first-order magnetoelectric coefficients suggest some promising applications in the embedded capacitors as well as in multifunctional devices.