Multifunctional Silver Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Nanocomposites: Nanoparticle Synthesis, Film Processing, and Structural Characterization

Scope of this work was the synthesis of homogeneously dispersed silver nanoparticles in the ferroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and the study of the resulting properties affecting both the electro-active matrix and the optically-active nanofiller. In the nanocomposites surface plasmon resonances can be tuned across the UV-vis to the NIR spectral range. From IR spectra and DSC measurements it is concluded that the - to -phase transformation is observed and no degradation of the polymer matrix occurs. Finally, electrical poling was performed in order to investigate the influence of the embedded silver particles on the polarization behavior of the ferroelectric polymer.