Dopamine functionalization of BaTiO₃: an effective strategy for the enhancement of electrical, magnetoelectric and thermal properties of BaTiO₃-PVDF-TrFE nanocomposites

Abstract

Electro-active polymer-ceramic composite systems are emerging materials in the fields of nanoelectronic, microelectromechanical and macroelectronic device applications. Still more precise and concise research studies have yet to come in the areas of energy storage, harvesting, energy conversion, etc. In line with this, we have synthesized and analyzed PVDF-TrFE based nanocomposites of both functionalized and non-functionalized BaTiO₃ (BTO). All the samples were prepared as free standing films by employing a solvent cast method. A systematic study of structural, morphological, thermal, dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric and magnetoelectric (ME) properties has been carried out. It has been reported that the addition of BTO nanoparticles (with and without functionalization) into a polymer matrix substantially improved the properties of the nanocomposite. By performing the above mentioned characterization, it could be proved that dopamine functionalized BTO (DBTO) samples are better choices for the above mentioned applications including magnetoelectric applications, than the non-functionalized ones.