Synthesis, thermal and dielectric performance of PVA-SrTiO3 polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

The paper considers PVA-SrTiO3 nanocomposite films produced successfully by the conventional solution-mixing route. Data for this study were collected using various experimental methods such as XRD, SEM, FTIR, TGA, as well as dielectric measurements. XRD analysis showed nanostructured SrTiO3 with cubic crystal structure and pure PVA has a semicrystalline structure. SEM images for the surface of nanocomposite films presented a uniform distribution of the nanoparticles. From the FTIR spectra, the addition of nano-SrTiO3 changed the position of PVA absorption bands. The thermal stability of these films was enhanced, as confirmed by the TGA analyses. There was a variation in the dielectric constant with SrTiO3 content and the sample containing 15.0 wt% had the highest value. All the PVA-SrTiO3 nanocomposite films revealed a lower energy density than the pure PVA polymer. Besides, the values of ε∞, εs and Δε decreased with increasing the SrTiO3 up to 10.0 wt%, but increased at 15.0 wt%. Finally, both AC and DC electrical conductivity showed a slight change with the variation in SrTiO3 concentration.