PVDF Phase Formation and Its Influence on Electrical and Structural Properties of PZT-PVDF Composites

Abstract

The aim of the study is to find the role of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) in the phase formation of poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its effect on electrical and structural properties of PZT-PVDF composites (50 Vol%) with 0-3 connectivity. PZT particles of different sizes ranging from micron to nano are used. The particle size (<100 nm) were determined from TEM and the broadening of the characteristic diffraction peaks in the x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), studies were performed to analyze the nature of ceramic particle distribution within the matrix. The percentage of polymer crystallinity was determined from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and found to decrease with decrease in ceramic particle size. The decrease in the crystallinity percentage is due the hindrance offered by ceramic during the crystallization of the polymer. The melting endotherms of the composites were deconvoluted and the amount of PVDF β-phase present in the composites were determined and was found to decrease with decrease in ceramic particle size. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies were also carried out to confirm the decrease in the β-phase content with decrease in particle size. The variation in the amount of β-phase of the polymer is due to the presence of PZT which acts as a source of electric field during poling and converts other polymer phases to β-phase. The piezoelectric coefficient and remnant polarization was found to decrease with decrease in ceramic particle size and is due to the decrease in percentage of β phase in the composites.

Advances in Piezoelectric Polymer Composites for Energy Harvesting Applications: A Systematic Review

“…In 2009, Greeshma et al . studied the role of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) particles in the phase formation of PVDF and evaluated their electrical and structural properties by preparing PZT‐PVDF composites (50 vol%) with 0–3 connectivity.…”

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PVDF/PZT composites: A review

“…Greeshma et al investigated the role of PZT particle in phase formation of PVDF. PZT particles ranging from 40 nm to 106 mm were chosen for the study.…”

Inclusion of water and KDP as a mechanism for controlling structural and dielectric parameters in PVDF films

“…The relative intensity of the FTIR absorption bands may reveal relevant information about the amounts of crystalline phases of a material. The band at 875 cm −1 has been repeatedly used as the internal standard for the comparison of PVDF spectra [5]. Thus, the A 765 /A 875 , A 840 /A 875 and A 1234 /A 875 ratios, representative of the respective amounts of α, β and γ phases in the samples studied were measured.…”

“…The spatial arrangement of CH 2 and CF 2 groups along the polymer chains contributes to their unique properties [4]. The Van der Waals radius of fluorine (1.35 Å) is slightly higher than that of hydrogen (1.2 Å) [5]. Therefore, different arrangements define different crystalline phases and the so-called phases α and β are the most interesting.…”