Nucleation of electroactive β-phase poly(vinilidene fluoride) with CoFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 nanofillers: a new method for the preparation of multiferroic nanocomposites

Abstract

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 CoFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 nanoparticles in order to prepare poly(vinylidene fluoride)/ferrite nanocomposite for multiferroic and magnetoelectric applications,. The dispersed ferrite nano-filler particles strongly enhance the nucleation of the β-phase of the polymer matrix. In this way, magnetoelectric polymer nancomposites can be processed avoiding the usual to phase transformation by stretching of the polymer matrix.