Study of electrical properties of biocomposites containing ferroelectric nanoparticles

Abstract

Bio-ferroelectric composites represent an inexpensive and environmentally friendly electronic alternative for electrical applications such as capacitors, transistors, and actuators. The present research relates to the development of a biocomposite made of a chitosan–cellulose polymeric layer and bearing ferroelectric nanoparticles. The variables considered included the volume percentage of cellulose (15 v% and 25 v%) in the matrix and the amount of ferroelectric nanoparticles (0 wt.%, 10 wt.%, and 20 wt.%). Upon electrical characterization, the results indicated that the addition of the nanoparticles raised the capacitance and resistivity of the composite while the addition of cellulose lessened both electrical properties. The measured capacitance of the composites diminished as the applied voltage increased when contrasted with commercial capacitors where under similar testing conditions, as expected, the said capacity remained constant. Additionally, higher current flows were obtained for those capacitors than for a capacitor made with the nanocomposite. In general, it is proposed that capacitors made of this biopolymer reinforced with ferroelectric particles be suitable for radio frequency and microwave applications in which high electrical tunability and low dielectric loss are required.