Improvisation of electrical properties of PVDF-HFP: use of novel metallic nanoparticles

The electrical properties of poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) films has been improved by incorporating a novel material, the triturated copper (TCu) and cobalt (TCo) nanoparticles by simple solution casting technique. Serial dilutions of the solution of these triturated nanoparticles in alcohol have been shaken vigorously and we studied the effect of these VLMRSDL (Very Low Molarity Repeatedly Shaken Diluted Liquid-the so called potentised liquid) on the improvement of electrical properties of the nanocomposite film. The room temperature dielectric constant of the pure PVDF-HFP at 20 Hz frequency increases with increase in potentisation of the solvent containing the triturated metal nano particles and reaches a maximum almost 4 times the value of the pure one. The presence of alpha- and beta-phases and spherulitic crystal structure of PVDF-HFP of these nanocomposite films have been detected by XRD, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), DTA and by field emission scanning electron micrograph (FESEM) study. The transition of phase between alpha and beta is activated by the incorporation of metallic nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. This provides the nanocomposites higher mobile charge carriers which participate in the interfacial polarization. These films have higher dielectric permittivity and significantly lower dissipation factor (tan delta) at room temperature compared to the pure PVDF-HFP. The triturated metal nanoparticles are inexpensive, easy to fabricate and environment friendly. The incorporation of these novel nanoparticles in polymer matrix to get enhanced improved electrical properties will have a significant contribution in the present day research in electronics.