Enhancing functional properties of PVDF-HFP/BZT-BCT polymer-ceramic composites by surface hydroxylation of ceramic fillers. Issue 23 (1st December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dash, Smaranika; Thakur, Vikas N.; Kumar, Ashok; Mahaling, R.N.; Patel, S.; Thomas, R.; Sahoo, Balaram; Pradhan, Dillip K.
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 47:Issue 23(2021)
• Page Start: 33563
• Page End: 33576
• Publication Date: 2021-12-01
• Subjects: Polymer-ceramic composites -- Hydroxylation -- Interfacial interaction -- Dielectric property -- Ferroelectric property; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.08.265
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: We report the mechanism to enhance the dielectric and ferroelectric behavior of polymer-ceramic composites through surface hydroxylation of 0.5Ba(Zr0.2 Ti0.8 )O3 -0.5(Ba0.7 Ca0.3 )TiO3 (BZT-BCT) ceramic filler-particles embedded in PVDF-HFP copolymer matrix. Varying the hydroxylated h-(BZT-BCT) filler particle-content (φ = 0–40 wt% ) in PVDF-HFP copolymer matrix, composite films (of ~75 μm thickness) were prepared. We observed that, with an increase in filler content up to an optimum concentration of 15 wt%, a microstructure with gradually denser particle-arrangement and enhanced particles-polymer surface interaction is exhibited, which leads to improved dielectric and ferroelectric behavior. The energy storage density (728 mJ/cm 3 at an electric field of 750 kV/cm) of the composite with 15 wt% of h-(BZT-BCT) is found to be much higher than those of the pure BZT-BCT sample, pure PVDF-HFP copolymer and their composites. Our work demonstrates the method of enhancing the functional properties through a suitable microstructure of composite materials with surface-hydroxylation of filler particles. Highlights: Ferroelectricity in virgin and hydroxylated (h-) BZT-BCT ceramic/PVDF-HFP copolymer composites is studied. A 15 wt% concentration of h-(BZT-BCT) filler particles enhances packing density of composite by minimizing voids. High packing density enhances interfacial interaction between h-(BZT-BCT) fillers and PVDF-HFP polymer. Hydroxyl (–OH) ions on h-(BZT-BCT) particles facilitates formation of electroactive β-phase of PVDF-HFP. Our work demonstrates a method to improve ferroelectricity and energy storage density of ceramic/polymer composites.