Nucleation of electroactive β -phase poly(vinilidene fluoride) with CoFe_2O_4 and NiFe_2O_4 nanofillers: a new method for the preparation of multiferroic nanocomposites

摘要

Multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials show enormous potential for technological developments. Multiferroic composites are more attractive for applications due to their enhanced properties with respect to single-phase multiferroic materials. In this paper we report on the nucleation of the electroactive β-phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, by the addition of CoFe_2O_4 and NiFe_2O_4 nanopar-ticles in order to prepare poly(vinylidene fluoride)/ferrite nanocomposite for multiferroic and magnetoelectric applications,. The dispersed ferrite nanofiller particles strongly enhance the nucleation of the β-phase of the polymer matrix. In this way, magnetoelectric polymer nanocomposites can be processed avoiding the usual a- to β-phase transformation by stretching of the polymer matrix.