Enhanced dielectric constant and hydrophobicity of P(VDF–TrFE)-based composites

Abstract

In this research, we report a facile and low-lost method to prepare single-layer hybrid films with high permittivity and hydrophobicity, which exhibited promising potential application as insulator layer in low-voltage electrowetting devices. α-terpineol treated BaTiO3 nanoparticles with less agglomeration were incorporated into P(VDF–TrFE) matrix. The dielectric behavior and hydrophobic property of these composites were studied. Typically, the composite with 25 vol% surface treated BaTiO3 nanoparticles reveals dielectric constant of 46.5, three times of that of pure P(VDF–TrFE), and a lower dielectric loss of 0.091 at 103 Hz compared to the composite filled with commercial BaTiO3 nanoparticles, although its breakdown strength still remains 100 MV m−1. Besides, electric conductivity of all the composites were lower than 10−7 S cm−1 even at high frequency, indicating their excellent insulativity. Further, the composites film exhibits the high static contact angle with excellent AC electrowetting response. These results demonstrated the great potential of such single-layer composite film for low-voltage electrowetting devices.