Enhanced dielectric properties of the poly(vinylidene fluoride)-CaCu3Ti4O12 nanocomposite thick films by quenching in ice water

The effect of quenching on the dielectric properties of a polymer-ceramic nanocomposite thick films in ice water has been investigated. Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-calcium copper titanate nanocomposite films prepared with loading of 8 vol% of CaCu3Ti4O12 nanopowder (PVDF-8CCTO) in the polymer matrix by tape casting technique. The quenched and unquenched films of PVDF-8CCTO nanocomposite have been structurally, morphologically and electrically characterized. The dielectric constant of quenched and unquenched films at 1 kHz is found to be ~20 and ~13 respectively, whereas tangent loss for both the films is found to be ~0.03 at room temperature. Quenching in ice water enhances the dielectric constant of PVDF-8CCTO nanocomposite film without compromising with the tangent loss. The dielectric constant of the quenched film also exhibits better thermal stability as compared to the unquenched film in the temperature range of 30 °C–80 °C. The enhancement in the dielectric constant by quenching in ice water is attributed to the formation of a microcapacitive network due to various surface and interface phenomena. A detailed mechanism based on the formation of a microcapacitive network due to surface/interface phenomena has also been proposed. The effect of quenching on the dielectric properties of a polymer-ceramic nanocomposite thick films in ice water has been investigated. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) -calcium copper titanate nanocomposite films prepared with loading of 8 vol% of CaCu3Ti4O12 nanopowder (PVDF-8CCTO) in the polymer matrix by tape casting technique. The quenched and unquenched films of PVDF-8CCTO nanocomposite have been structurally, morphologically and electrically characterized. The dielectric constant of quenched and unquenched films at 1 kHz is found to be ~20 and ~13 respectively, whereas tangent loss for both the films is found to be ~0.03 at room temperature. Quenching in ice water enhances the dielectric constant of PVDF-8CCTO nanocomposite film without compromising with the tangent loss. The dielectric constant of the quenched film also exhibits better thermal stability as compared to the unquenched film in the temperature range of 30 °C–80 °C. The enhancement in the dielectric constant by quenching in ice water is attributed to the formation of a microcapacitive network due to various surface and interface phenomena. A detailed mechanism based on the formation of a microcapacitive network due to surface/interface phenomena has also been propose