Investigation of alumina nanofiller impact on the structural and dielectric properties of PEO/PMMA blend matrix-based polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposite (PNC) films have been prepared by the solution-cast method using a polymer blend of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (PEO/PMMA = 50/50 wt%) as organic host matrix and x wt% Al2O3 nanoparticles (x = 0, 1, 3, and 5) as inorganic nanofiller. The morphological and structural behavior of these PNC films has been examined by employing the scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, whereas their dielectric polarization and relaxation processes are characterized by carrying out the dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) over the frequency range 2 × 101 to 1 × 106 Hz. Impact of Al2O3 nanofiller on the spherulite and porous morphology, degree of crystallinity, polymer-polymer and polymer-nanoparticle interactions, complex dielectric permittivity, ac electrical conductivity, and the polymers structural dynamics has been explored. It is revealed that initially 1 wt% dispersion of Al2O3 in the PEO/PMMA blend matrix significantly reduces the crystallinity and dielectric permittivity, and hinders the cooperative chain segmental dynamics of the polymers which unevenly changes with the further increase of Al2O3 concentration up to 5 wt%. The dielectric and electrical parameters of these materials have also been compared with the PNC materials based on other polar polymer host matrices containing different oxide inorganic nanoparticles. The results of this work provide a guideline to design and fabricate the alumina nanoparticles loaded flexible-type polymer nanodielectric materials for advanced technologies.