Crystallization kinetics and enhanced dielectric properties of free standing lead-free PVDF based composite films

Ferroelectric composites, integrating dielectric ceramic fillers with mechanically flexible polymers, are promising materials for flexible electronic applications. Plenty of research has demonstrated the enhanced dielectric and ferroelectric properties of composite materials. However, the mechanisms responsible for these enhancements are not completely understood. Herein, we used typical dielectric materials, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and BaTiO3 (BTO), to study the effect of a dielectric filler on the crystallization, phase transformation and dielectric properties of PVDF. The crystallization of β-PVDF was not affected by the presence of BTO particles, but small amounts of BTO (