Enhancement of β-crystalline phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in the presence of hyperbranched copolymer wrapped multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Many efforts have been performed on the poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, due to its piezoelectric, pyroelectric and ferroelectric potentials. In this regard, how to fabricate the PVDF with high content of β-phase, which is also the direct contribution to PVDF’s prominent property, becomes a critical issue. In this study, starting with the α-phase dominated sample, the PVDF with extremely high content of β-crystalline phase was obtained by the incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified by hyperbranched copolymers (HBCs). We proved that, via XRD, DSC as well as the structural characterizations from the polarized optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the success of this strategy was ascribed to the enhanced dispersibility and stability of MWCNTs endowed by the HBCs, which significantly favors the formation of the β-crystalline phase of PVDF.

The β-crystal distribution in PVDF was enhanced significantly by the addition of trace of MWNTs wrapped by hyperbranched co-polymers. This observation was attributed to the good dispersion being rendered by the giant volume created by the hyperbranched copolymer (HBC) and possible electrostatic interaction between HPC and PVDF molecules.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (57 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► The hyperbranched copolymers (HCPs) synthesized were used to modify the multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).
► The dispersibility and its stability of MWCNTs were found tremendously enhanced by the HCPs in the polymer matrix.
► The HCPs wrapped MWCNTs play a role to improve efficiently the β-crystalline phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF.