Poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymer based nanocomposites with significantly reduced energy loss by filling with core-shell structured BaTiO3/SiO2 nanoparticles

Homogeneous ceramics-polymer nanocomposites comprising core-shell structured BaTiO3/SiO2 nanoparticles and a poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymer matrix have been prepared. The nanocomposite of 2 vol. % BaTiO3/SiO2 nanoparticles exhibits 46% reduced energy loss compared to that of BaTiO3 nanoparticles, and an energy density of 6.28 J/cm(3), under an applied electric field of 340 MV/m. Coating SiO2 layers on the surface of BaTiO3 nanoparticles significantly reduces the energy loss of the nanocomposites under high applied electric field via reducing the Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars interfacial polarization and space charge polarization. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4795017]