Electrical and multiferroic characteristics of PVDF-MnFe2O4 nanocomposites

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.08.196
• Publication Date: 2017-08-24T10:03:47Z
• Authors: C. Behera; R.N.P. Choudhary
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Abstract Thin films of PVDF-MnFe2O4 nano-multiferroic composites (in 0–3 connectivity) of varying compositions have been prepared through a solution-casting route. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques have been used to study basic crystal structure and micrograph respectively of the composites. Structural investigation confirms the presence of polymeric electro-active β-phase in PVDF matrix and PVDF-MnFe2O4 nano-composites. Flexible nano-composites of PVDF and MnFe2O4 exhibit high dielectric constant and low tangent loss. The impedance spectroscopy technique has provided some interesting results on the contributions of grain and grain boundary in the total resistive properties of the composites. The nature of frequency dependence of alternating conductivity obeys Jonscher's power law. Some multiferroic properties (electric and magnetic polarization and magneto-electric coupling coefficient) have provided important experimental data of composites useful for multifunctional devices. The improved conductivity and dielectric properties suggest some promising applications in the embedded capacitors.