Dielectric and electromagnetic interference shielding performance of graphene nanoplatelets and copper oxide nanoparticles reinforced polyvinylidenefluoride/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-block-poly (ethylene glycol) blend nanocomposites

The fabrication of nanocomposites consisting of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO) reinforced polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-block-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEDOT-block-PEG) blend were done using solution casting technique. The structures and thermal properties of PVDF/PEDOT-block-PEG/GNP/CuO nanocomposites were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The morphological analysis done by Scanning electron microscope (SEM) has confirmed the uniform distribution of GNP and CuO throughout the polymer matrix. The dielectric properties and electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE) of produced nanocomposites were also investigated. The maximum values at the low-frequency region (100 Hz and 150 degrees C), for dielectric constant and dielectric loss obtained, are 34.0 and 9.2, respectively. The maximum EMI SE was observed to be 17 dB for nanocomposites containing 2/20 wt% of GNP/CuO in 12-18 GHz (Ku-band) region and the shielding mechanism was found to be absorptiondominated. The conductive network formation by GNP and CuO in the PVDF/PEDOT-block-PEG blend improved the SE which further emphasizes the potential use of these nanocomposites as an effective EMI shielding material.