Influence of Silver Nanoparticles Concentration on the <i>α</i>- to <i>β</i>-Phase Transformation and the Physical Properties of Silver Nanoparticles Doped Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Nanocomposites

This paper describes the processing of silver nanoparticle doped poly(vinylidene fluoride). The effect of the dopant concentration on the alpha- to beta-phase transformation of the polymer as well as in the morphological, thermal, optical and dielectric properties of the nanocomposites was investigated. Spherical silver nanoparticles were incorporated into the poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymeric matrix by the solvent casting method, with different Ag concentrations. Well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles act as nucleation centers, increasing the degree of crystallinity of the nanocomposites. Homogeneous dispersion of silver nanoparticles is demonstrated through the presence of surface plasmon resonance absorption in the nanocomposites. The alpha- to beta-phase transformation was achieved in the polymer matrix and a maximum of approximately equal to 70% of beta-PVDF was reached at 80 degrees C and a stretching ratio of 400%. The dielectric constant of the nanocomposites increases with increasing metal nanoparticle concentration, up to approximately equal to 26 at 0.020 wt% Ag content. The alpha- to beta-phase transformation affects both the dielectric response and the surface plasmon resonance.