Influence of cluster size and surface functionalization of ZnO nanoparticles on the morphology, thermomechanical and piezoelectric properties of P(VDF-TrFE) nanocomposite films

The dispersion of nanoparticles and the microstructure of nanocomposite are observed by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The crystallinity of the copolymer matrix is characterized by X-ray diffraction and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The piezoelectric and mechanical properties are measured to evaluate the influence of cluster size and surface functionalization with respect to the P(VDF-TrFE) matrix. The nanocomposites filled with 10% nanoparticles showed an increase up to 25% of storage modulus while keeping a high piezoelectric activity. Furthermore, storage modulus of nanocomposites slightly linearly increased with decreasing cluster size of nanoparticles.