Lightweight, flexible NiO@SiO2/PVDF nanocomposite film for UV protection and EMI shielding application

[Display omitted] •Flexible NiO@SiO2 incorporated PVDF nanocomposite films having high dielectric constant and low tangent loss.•Single solution to block UV and microwave radiation using the multifunctional composite.•15 wt% loaded nanocomposite film almost completely blocks UV radiation.•Flexible nanocomposite film of low thickness (0.3 mm) and low density (1.4 g/cm3) has SET value of 21dB. A series of silica coated nickel oxide nanoparticles incorporated PVDF nanocomposite films have been successfully prepared by solution casting method and the dielectric properties along with EM shielding hasalso been studied. Higher loading of the well-dispersed NiO@SiO2 nanoparticles inthe PVDF matrix leads to the increment of the effective surface area resulting enhancement of the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the nanocomposite films. The nanocomposite films successfully block the harmful UV radiations. The sample PSNO15 (for 15 wt% loading of the NiO@SiO2 nanoparticles can almost completely block the UV radiation. As the effective surface area and the interfaces are increased due to the SiO2 coating of the NiO nanoparticles, the electromagnetic waves are reflected and scattered for multiple times from these interfaces. These NiO@SiO2/PVDFnanocomposite films are proposed to be used as UV and EMI shielding technology to get rid of EM hazards of the human civilizations.