New Flexible Nanocomposites Films with Magnetic and Enhanced Dielectric Properties to Benefit Several Industry Applications

Identifying the Issue

• Fabrication of lightweight and flexible films that exhibit a combination of good magnetic and dielectric properties
• Identification of electrical percolation threshold of LaNiO₃-PVDF nanocomposite
• Enhancement of dielectric properties in ternary Sn₂Fe_2.8O₄-LaNiO₃-PVDF nanocomposites by optimization of LaNiO₃ nanofiller.

Objective of the Research

• To synthesize tin-doped magnetite, Sn_0.2Fe_2.8O₄ (S0.2FO) nanoparticles with highest saturation magnetization and examine the magnetic, and dielectric properties by dispersing them in PVDF polymer matrix
• To synthesize conducting LaNiO₃ (LAN) nanoparticles, fabricate LAN-PVDF films, and investigate the electrical percolation threshold and the dielectric properties
• To enhance the dielectric behaviour of S0.2FO-PVDF films by the addition of LAN nanoparticles

Who should read this?

Materials researchers, nanotechnologists, anyone working in magnetic, dielectric, energy storage, microelectronics, microwave devices, magnetic separation and sensing industries

Solution

The multifunctional, hybrid nanocomposite films of LaNiO₃ and Sn_0.2Fe_2.8O₄ fillers, were fabricated, characterised and analysed for their structural, thermal, magnetic, and electrical properties. The diamagnetic LAN-PVDF films acquire superparamagnetic behaviour on the inclusion of S0.2FO nanofillers, thereby rendering the triphasic S0.2FO-LAN-PVDF films magnetic. The LAN-PVDF films with high dielectric constant and loss also exhibited a jump in the electrical conductivity by 7 orders at 10 vol% LAN – the electrical percolation threshold. The addition of a semiconducting S0.2FO filler to the binary composite films minimised the dielectric losses from 10³ to 10^-1 and also resulted in good relative permittivity. The ternary S0.2FO-LAN-PVDF films have improved dielectric constant and lower losses as compared to plain PVDF as well as binary LAN-PVDF and S0.2FO-PVDF films. They will be highly suitable for membrane separation, magnetoelectric devices, microelectronics, and energy storage applications.
 

Key Features and Benefits

• The developed polymer-based nanocomposites follow the current move towards flexible, compatible and light materials for various magnetic and electronic applications
• The triphasic S0.2FO-LAN-PVDF nanocomposite films combine in them, both the magnetic as well as dielectric properties and may find utility in a spectrum of applications such as microwave and magnetoelectric devices, interlayer and membrane separation, magnetic sensing, microelectronics, and energy storage

Impact

• Optimized synthesis of hybrid nanocomposite PVDF films with electroactive β, ɣ phase
• Phase purity and precision in filler loading confirmed by Rietveld analysis and TGA
• High conductivity achieved in ≥10 vol% LaNiO₃-PVDF films due to percolation effect
• LaNiO₃-Sn₂Fe_2.8O₄-PVDF ternary films have superparamagnetic, dielectric property
• Moderate dielectric constant, minimal loss achieved with Sn_0.2Fe_2.8O₄ nano-additive

Team

• Dr. P Lavanya Rathi, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Anantapur Campus
• Dr. Deepa Seetharaman, Head and Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Anantapur Campus
• Dr. Bharathi Ponraj

Article Published in: Materials Chemistry and Physics, Elsevier, Impact Factor: 4.778

Title of paper: Enhancement of dielectric and magnetic properties of electroactive LaNiO₃ based PVDF films by inclusion of magnetic Sn_0.2Fe_2.8O₄ nanofiller

Read Paper Here: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1gPrfvn2L-nQe

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2022.127259