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.