Effect of Li4Ti5O12 Nanoparticles on Structural, Optical and Thermal Properties of PVDF/PEO Blend

Lithium titanate nanoparticles Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 NPs were prepared by the solid-state reaction method using a stoichiometric ratio of lithium carbonate Li 2 CO 3 and titanium oxide nanoparticles TiO 2 NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 NPs. High-resolution transmission electron microscope showed like—cube shape of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 NPs with an average particle size 42 nm. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (80/20 wt/wt%) blend doped with concentrations 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 7.0 wt% of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 NPs were prepared using casting technique. Structural, optical and thermal properties of polymer nanocomposites were investigated using XRD, high-resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM), energy dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The XRD and FT-IR data showed that there was an interaction between the blend sample and Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 NPs. Also, the addition of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 NPs decreased the degree of crystallinity of the blend sample. HRSEM images revealed that the presence of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 NPs changed the surface morphology of the nanocomposites and gave rise to crystalline domains up to 5 wt% Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 NPs, then deteriorations was occurred.