Enhancement of dielectric and ferroelectric properties in cobalt ferrite doped poly(vinylidene fluoride) multiferroic composites

Abstract

We report the effect of cobalt ferrite () nanoparticles on dielectric and ferroelectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF). Large enhancements in dielectric constant and remanent polarization upon addition of 5 wt.% nanoparticles to PVDF have been observed. Nearly 17% increase of dielectric constant and 31% increase in remanent polarization was observed in PVDF- nanocomposite films as compared to pristine PVDF films prepared under identical conditions. These enhancements were accompanied by a decrease in crystallinity and an increase in electroactive β-phase content as evidenced by x-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. A 5% increase in the amount of β-phase content is also observed in nanocomposite films. These enhancements in dielectric constant and remanent polarization are attributed to the influence of nanoparticles on nucleation, morphology, dipole aligning and dipole pinning behavior of PVDF.