Tunable negative permittivity behavior in percolated MWCNTs/PVDF composites

Abstract

Composites with negative permittivity behavior have brought about widespread attention for their broad application prospects in electromagnetic field or being used for novel capacitance. In this work, multiwall carbon nanotubes/polyvinylidene fluoride (MWCNTs/PVDF) composites with gradually increasing MWCNT filling content were prepared by hot-pressing in order to acquire negative permittivity. The microstructure, ac conductivity, and real permittivity of the samples were elaborated. As MWCNTs content increases, the percolation phenomenon occurs accompanied by the conversion of conductive mechanism from hopping conduction to free electron conduction. It’s found that negative permittivity property was obtained at a lower filler content and can be regulated by controlling MWCNTs content, which is related to the plasma oscillation state of free electrons in MWCNTs.