Preparation and Optical Properties of PVDF-CaFe 2 O 4 Polymer Nanocomposite Films

In this work, a synthesis technique for highly homogeneous PVDF-CaFe O polymer films direct from solution was developed. The structural characterizations were conducted using XRD, FTIR, and ESEM experimental techniques. The XRD characteristic peaks of CaFe O nanoparticles revealed a polycrystalline structure. The average crystallite size for CaFe O was calculated to be 17.0 nm. ESEM micrographs of PVDF nanocomposites containing 0.0, 0.25, 0.75, and 1.0 wt% of CaFe O showed smooth surface topography. The direct E and indirect E band gap energies for the PVDF-CaFe O nanocomposites were decreased with the additions of 0.0-1.0 wt% CaFe O . In addition, the refractive index ( ) increased from 3.38 to 10.36, and energy gaps (E ) decreased from 5.50 to 4.95 eV. The nonlinear refractive index (n ) for the PVDF-CaFe O nanocomposites was improved with the addition of CaFe O nanoparticles, exceeding those reported in the literature for PVC, PVA, and PMMA nanocomposites. Therefore, the PVDF-CaFe O nanocomposites are expected to take the lead in optoelectronic applications because of their unusual optical properties.