Flexible, transparent and high dielectric-constant fluoropolymer-based nanocomposites with a fluoride-constructed interfacial structure

Flexible transparent dielectric materials have drawn ever-increasing research interests owing to their essential functions and potentially expansive applications in new generation electronics. In this study, a well-designed fluoride-constructed interfacial structure between poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoro-propylene) P(VDF-HFP) and ultra-small SiO₂ nanoparticles was formed for manipulating the crystallization of the semicrystalline polymer. With more induced polar phases, ameliorated matrix/filler interfaces and diminished crystallite sizes, the resulting fluoropolymer-based nanocomposites exhibited a high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss of 27.1 and 0.03 at 1 kHz, respectively, as well as enhanced mechanical strength (Young's modulus of 986.2 MPa), toughness (elongation at break of 208.2%) and light transmittance (88.5% at 760 nm). This strategy is believed to open up a new path for developing high-performance flexible transparent dielectrics.