Structural Insight in the Interfacial Effect in Ferroelectric Polymer Nanocomposites

Both experimental results and theoretical models suggest the decisive role of the filler-matrix interfaces on the dielectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and electrocaloric properties of ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites. However, there remains a lack of direct structural evidence to support the so-called interfacial effect in dielectric nanocomposites. Here, a chemical mapping of the interfacial coupling between the nanofiller and the polymer matrix in ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites by combining atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) with first-principles calculations and phase-field simulations is provided. The addition of ceramic fillers into a ferroelectric polymer leads to augmentation of the local conformational disorder in the vicinity of the interface, resulting in the local stabilization of the all-trans conformation (i.e., the polar beta phase). The formation of highly polar and inhomogeneous interfacial regions, which is further enhanced with a decrease of the filler size, has been identified experimentally and verified by phase-field simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This work offers unprecedented structural insights into the configurational disorder-induced interfacial effect and will enable rational design and molecular engineering of the filler-matrix interfaces of electroactive polymer nanocomposites to boost their collective properties.

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Work Title Structural Insight in the Interfacial Effect in Ferroelectric Polymer Nanocomposites
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Yang Liu
  2. Tiannan Yang
  3. Bing Zhang
  4. Teague Williams
  5. Yen-Ting Lin
  6. Li Li
  7. Yao Zhou
  8. Wenchang Lu
  9. Seong H. Kim
  10. Long-Qing Chen
  11. J. Bernholc
Keyword
  1. Atomic force microscopy–infrared spectroscopy
  2. Ferroelectrics
  3. Filler-matrix interfaces
  4. Interfacial effects
  5. Polymer nanocomposites
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Advanced Materials
Publication Date 2020
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202005431
Deposited August 10, 2022

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Updated
  • Added Creator Sandra Elder
  • Added Structural Insight in the Interfacial Effect in Ferroelectric Polymer Nanocomposites.pdf
  • Updated License Show Changes
    License
    • https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
  • Published
  • Updated Keyword, Publisher, Publisher Identifier (DOI), and 1 more Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Atomic force microscopy–infrared spectroscopy, Ferroelectrics, Filler-matrix interfaces, Interfacial effects, Polymer nanocomposites
    Publisher
    • Advanced Materials
    Publisher Identifier (DOI)
    • https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202005431
    Publication Date
    • 2020-12
    • 2020
  • Deleted Creator Sandra Elder
  • Added Creator Yang Liu
  • Added Creator Tiannan Yang
  • Added Creator Bing Zhang
  • Added Creator Teague Williams
  • Added Creator Yen-Ting Lin
  • Added Creator Li Li
  • Added Creator Yao Zhou
  • Added Creator Wenchang Lu
  • Added Creator Seong H. Kim
  • Added Creator Long-Qing Chen
  • Added Creator J. Bernholc
  • Updated