Reduced energy loss in poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposites by filling with a small loading of core-shell structured BaTiO3/SiO2 nanofibers

Abstract

Homogeneous ceramic-polymer nanocomposites consisting of core-shell structured BaTiO3/SiO2 nanofibers and a p oly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer matrix have been prepared. The correlation between the energy discharged density and interfacial polarization is studied in PVDF nanocomposites by the measurements of the discharge performance and impedance spectroscopy. According to the results of dielectric constant, breakdown strength, and complex impedance analysis, coating SiO2 layers on the surface of BaTiO3 nanofibers can block the movement of charge carriers through the nanocomposites by playing a shielding role on the charge-rich inter layer, which resulted in weak Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars interfacial polarization and thus reduces the energy loss and improved the energy discharged density of the nanocomposites. The energy discharged density in the nanocomposite with 2.5 vol. % BaTiO3/SiO2 core-shell nanofibers is 6.28 J/cm3 at 3.3 MV/cm, which is over 11.94% higher than that of nanocomposite with BaTiO3 nanofibers at the same electric field.