Preparation and characterization of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene)/barium titanate polymer nanocomposite for ferroelectric applications

Abstract

Barium titanate nanoparticles with an average size of <100 nm were added to poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) copolymer in varying concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 wt%) in liquid phase under bath sonication and annealed at 120°C for 2 h. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Differential scanning calorimetry studies reveals an increase in the β‐phase content of the nanocomposite, which is a promising inference for the increased ferroelectric property of the material. Scanning electron microscopy and Atomic force microscopy was used to study the surface topography of the spin coated thin films. Polarization–electric field studies clearly indicating the enhanced ferroelectric nature of optimized concentration with highest remnant polarization. All these results nominate this polymer nanocomposite as a promising material for ferroelectric applications like nonvolatile memory devices. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1655–1661, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers