Effect of sodium niobate (NaNbO3) nanorods on β-phase enhancement in Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer

Ferroelectric nanocomposite thin films of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) having 0 to 15 wt% of Sodium Niobate (NaNbO3) nanorods, were prepared by solution casting method. Sodium Niobate nanorods were prepared by hydrothermal method. In the present work, it has been shown that the polar crystalline beta-phase of PVDF, which is responsible for the piezoelectric property, enhances piezo properties from 52 to 75% by adding appropriate quantity of NaNbO3 nanorods into the PVDF matrix without any additional mechanical and electrical treatment. The structural properties of nanocomposite films are analyzed by x-ray diffractometer (XRD) measurements and polar crystalline beta-phase has been analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The composite films synthesized from 15 wt% loaded NaNbO3 in PVDF showed remnant polarization (Pr) is 0.016 89 mu C/cm(2) at an electric field of 150 kV cm(-1), generates maximum output voltage of 3.34 V and short circuit current 0.503 mu A by repetitive finger imparting pressure. The power so generated is sufficient to drive micro watt power consuming device. It has been shown that NaNbO3 nanorods not only facilitate the alignments of dipoles in PVDF but also increase the piezoelectric properties of the nanocomposite due to inherent piezoelectric property of NaNbO3 nanorods.