Tuning the Electrical and Thermal Functionalities of Mechanically Flexible Poly (vinyl alcohol) Nanocomposites: Effect of Cerium Zirconate Nanofiller Content

Herein, we report the considerate doping of particle stabilizing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) matrix using cerium zirconate (Ce0.5Zr0.5O2) nanoparticles (NPs) with varying amounts viz., 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 wt% of Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 NPs and their electrical, mechanical and thermal performance appraisal. The developed polymer nanocomposite (PNC) thick films have been also studied for their surface wettabilities via static water contact angle measurements, so as establish their self-cleansing abilities. Further, the electrical functionalities of developed PNCs were valued using LCR (inductance (L), capacitance (C), resistance (R)) meter. While, thermal behaviors were established via thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) studies.