Dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based nanocomposites containing a LaFeO3 nanoparticle filler

Flexible dielectric polymer nanocomposites have been widely investigated in recent years due to their potential application in electronic devices. In this study, a new system of flexible composites is prepared by incorporating the orthorhombic perovskite structure of a LaFeO3 (LFO) filler into poly(vinylidene) fluoride (PVDF). LFO nanoparticles with an average particle size of similar to 194 nm are synthesized by the combustion method. The effect of the introduced LFO on the morphology, structure, phase composition, and dielectric properties of the composites is investigated. The LFO/PVDF nanocomposites show a large dielectric permittivity, which is approximately 5 times higher than that of pure PVDF. Interestingly, the dielectric loss tangent of the composites is decreased by similar to 0.059 at a volume fraction of LFO (f(LFO)) = 0.5, temperature of similar to 20 degrees C, and frequency of 1 kHz. The improved dielectric properties of the LFO/PVDF composites can be explained by the presence of strong interfacial polarization and the increase in the polar beta-PVDF phase in the nanocomposites. This work provides a comprehensive guideline for improving dielectric polymer nanocomposites with high permittivity and low dielectric loss.