P(VDF-TrFE)/Al2O3 piezoelectric nanocomposite thin films

Alumina nanoparticles were incorporated into copolymer of vinylidene difluoride and trifluoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)) to form nanocomposite. Thin films were prepared on silicon wafers and some acoustic, optical and mechanical properties were studied by Brillouin spectroscopy. The morphology of the polymer and the dispersion quality of the nanoparticles were observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy. The refractive index was shown to be relatively constant with the concentration of nanoparticles. The acoustic wave velocity and the elastic constant of the material increase linearly with weight percentage of nanoparticles. Such improvement in material properties might be attributed to the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl groups of the surface of alumina nanoparticles and the copolymer matrix.