Investigation on the influence of sodium zirconate nanoparticles on the structural characteristics and electrical properties of polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite films

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films doped with varying amounts, viz., 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 wt.%, of sodium zirconate (Na2ZrO3) were prepared using the solution casting technique in order to investigate the effect of Na2ZrO3 nanoparticle incorporation on the structural, morphological and electrical properties of PVA matrix. The fabricated nanocomposite films have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of Na2ZrO3 nanoparticles on the electrical properties of PVA nanocomposites were analyzed by AC conductivity (σac), dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) and electric modulus (M′, M″) over a frequency domain from 100 Hz to 1 MHz at room temperature. FT-IR and XRD analysis shows the nature of Na2ZrO3 nanoparticles interaction with the PVA matrix, while SEM images showed uniform dispersion of Na2ZrO3 nanoparticles in PVA matrix. AC conductivity (σac) of PVA/Na2ZrO3 nanocomposites increases with increase in filler loading and frequency. The electrical properties such as dielectric constant (ε′) and dielectric loss (ε″) increases with an increase in the amount of nanoparticle, but decreases with frequency. Dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) increases with an increase in nanoparticles concentration, but decreases with frequency. The imaginary part of the electric modulus (M′) increases with increase in filler loading except at very low frequency.

► A PVA film doped with sodium zirconate nanoparticles was prepared by solution casting technique.
► Electrical conductivity increased with increase in filler concentration and frequency.
► Dielectric constant increased with increase in filler loading, but decreased with frequency.
► Dielectric loss increased with increase in filler loading, but decreased with frequency.
► Dissipation factor increased with increase in filler loading, but decreased with frequency.