A comparative study of different metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed PVDF/PEO blend matrix-based advanced multifunctional nanodielectrics for flexible electronic devices

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) are technologically smart multifunctional, flexible, and stretchable-type materials of high scientific and industrial interest. In this study, PNC films based on host polymer matrix of poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) blended with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (compositional ratio PVDF/PEO = 75/25 wt/wt%) and 5 wt% different metal oxide nanoparticles (i.e., Al2O3, SnO2, TiO2, and ZnO) as nanoinclusions have been developed by casting from solution. These films were characterized with advanced techniques namely; SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, DRS, and UV–vis spectroscopy for confirmation of their technological applications. The results evidence that these metal oxide nanoparticles produce significant alterations in the polymers spherulitic morphology, creates a large number of micro- to nano-sized pores, lowers the β-phase content of the PVDF and crystalline phase of PEO, and also the degree of crystallinity of the host matrix. Among these metal oxides, the Al2O3 nanoparticles considerably enhance the dielectric permittivity while other nanofillers anomalously alter the dielectric polarization processes and MWS relaxation of the PNC films in the frequency range 20 Hz – 1 MHz at ambient temperature. AC electrical conduction is found relatively high for the Al2O3 and low for ZnO nanoparticles containing PNC films. The optical energy bandgap of these PNC films are sturdily ruled by the characteristic optical properties of the nanofillers. The physical, morphological, structural, dielectric, and optical parameters of these metal oxide nanofillers are considered for the demonstration of relative changes in the investigated properties of the PNC materials. Experimental results evidence multifunctionality of these PNC materials to be used as controllable nanodielectrics for the development of flexible-type macro- and microelectronic devices in the advances of porous membrane technology, UV-shielders, and the optical bandgap tuners.