Optimizing the dielectric property of carbon nanotubes/ P(VDF-CTFE) nanocomposites by tailoring the shell thickness of liquid crystalline polymer modified layer

Interfacial modification is a good approach to improve the dielectric properties of nanocomposites. However, there are few reports to study the influence of interfacial modified thickness. In this study, the graft-from strategy was adopted to introduce the rigid liquid crystalline fluoropolymer (poly[2,5-bis[(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-oxycarbonyl]] styrene (PTFMS) onto the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNT). The shell thickness increased from 20 ± 3 to 62 ± 6 nm via controlling the ratio of monomer to the initiator. The results indicated that the dielectric properties of the P(VDF-CTFE) nanocomposites with the modified CNT were significantly enhanced compared with those original CNT, and the maximum dielectric constant of nanocomposites with 1.25 vol% CNT@PTFMS containing the thickest thickness reached 36 at 40 Hz due to the highest micro-capacitors, which was 360% than the neat P(VDF-CTFE). This work provides the perspective to understand the relationship between the shell thickness and dielectric property of polymer nanocomposites based on conductive fillers.