Preparation and characterization of electrical, morphological and topographic properties for advanced conductive PMMA/PVDF/PANI ternary blend for low percolation threshold devices

Abstract

The presented work targets on developing an advanced conductive polymer blend. This polymer has a low permeation threshold at low concentrations of conductive polymer. Two groups of polymer blend, consist of a mixture of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) and polyanylene (PAni) were used. The first group was used with various weight fractions (1%, 3% and 5%) of Pani, while second group (10%, 30%, and 50%) of PVDF was used via solution casting method. The tests carried out were the AFM, FTIR, SEM as well as analysis of electrical conductivity. The results show that the dielectric constant was observed to saturate at mid frequency of 103Hz – 105 Hz. At low frequency (101 Hz), Cp, dielectric constant and impedance resistance were high. Moreover, it could be observed that the Cp, dielectric constant and impedance resistance value for optimized samples was decreased for group PMMA-30%PVDF-5%PAni more than PMMA-50%PVDF- 5%PAni. The AFM results demonstrate the topographic of neat PMMA where bigger globules can be seen. Little amounts of these globules were noticed in the ternary blend of PMMA-PVDF– PAni. AFM micrograph of ternary blend demonstrates that the expansion of PVDF wt.% in the blend reduces straightened globules. In the second group, the ternary blends were smoother than neat PMMA. The FTIR investigation demonstrates the higher absorptivity peak because of C - O aggregate shows up in the ternary blend. A slight move of the crest at 1727 from 1730 cm−1 for neat PMMA might be owing to the good homogeneity of PMMA matrix with PAni and PVDF in the ternary blend. Morphological properties represented by SEM image illustrates homogenous mixing for both groups. In PMMA-50%PVDF-5%PAni blend, the zone involved by PAni has been restricted which results in a lower permeation threshold of PAni, and an expansion in the conductivity of the sample as compared with counterpart group PMMA-30%PVDF-5%PAni.