Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Nanocomposites with Simultaneous Organic Nanodomains and Inorganic Nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanostructured polymeric dielectric composites, based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), conductive carbon black (CB), and an unsaturated ionic liquid (IL), 1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([VEIM][BF4]), were fabricated by melt blending and electron beam irradiation (EBI) methods. Our strategy forms simultaneous double nanophases in the PVDF matrix, that is, homogeneously dispersed CB nanoparticles and organic PVDF-g-IL nanodomains. The organic nanodomains were produced by microphase separation of the PVDF-g-IL chains from the PVDF matrix at melt state in the electron beam (EB) irradiated PVDF/IL-CB nanocomposites. Furthermore, the CB nanoparticles were fully adhered with these nanodomains, and novel structures with nanodomains@CB nanoparticle were achieved. Such nanodomains@CB nanoparticle structures showed a synergetic nucleating effect on the PVDF crystallization and led to the formation of dominant nonpolar α phases in the nano-PVDF/IL-CB composites. Because of the nanodomains adhesion ...