Tailoring Dielectric Properties and Crystallinity in Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride-Co-Hexafluoropropylene) Nanocomposites via Iron (III) Chloride Hexahydrate Incorporation
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This study investigates the impact of iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O) incorporation on the structural, thermal, and dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) [P(VDF-HFP)] nanocomposites, which were prepared using a solution casting method with varying filler concentrations (1–4 wt%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a systematic increase in porosity—from 0.72% in pure P(VDF-HFP) to 27.5% at 4 wt% FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O—along with increased pore size and surface heterogeneity. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed enhanced surface roughness correlating with increased filler content. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy demonstrated a significant α-to-β phase transformation, indicating the formation of the polar β-phase with increasing FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O content. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis corroborated these findings, revealing a notable increase in crystallinity and β-phase content, with 4 wt% FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O achieving the highest β-phase fraction (88.99%). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed thermal stability up to approximately 500°C, with a gradual shift in degradation onset attributed to FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O interactions. Dielectric measurements at 10 Hz showed a remarkable enhancement in dielectric constant—from 5.62 in pure P(VDF-HFP) to 19.16 at 4 wt% FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O—while maintaining a low dielectric loss (< 0.30). These improvements are attributed to the synergistic effects of FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O on porosity, phase transformation, crystallinity, thermal stability, and dielectric properties. The superior performance of these nanocomposites makes them promising candidates for flexible electronics, energy storage systems, and advanced sensors.
