Synthesis and characterization of PVDF-Er2O3 polymer nanocomposites for energy storage applications

In the present study, PVDF-Er2O3 polymer nanocomposite films were synthesized at 85 °C via the solution casting method. Structural characterization of the nanocomposite films was determined from XRD, SEM and FTIR analysis. The results indicate a semicrystalline nature of the PVDF nanocomposite films. The crystal structure of Er2O3 nanoparticles is cubic with an average crystallite size of 39 nm. Images from the SEM microscopy confirmed uniform dispersion of nano-Er2O3 with small agglomerations. FTIR measurements revealed the characteristic bands of α, β and γ phases for PVDF in all nanocomposite films. From TGA analysis, the onset temperature of degradation decreases as Er2O3 weight percentage increases in the PVDF polymer matrix. Dielectric analysis revealed the increase of real permittivity for the PVDF-Er2O3 nanocomposites with increasing Er2O3 content. At 3.0 wt% of Er2O3, the maximum permittivity was achieved. It is also noticed that the nanocomposite film with a concentration of 1.0 wt% gave the highest energy density.