Inclusion of water and KDP as a mechanism for controlling structural and dielectric parameters in PVDF films

In this work, the possibility of improving the microstructural and dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) by the addition of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) to the polymer matrix is speculated. Both PVDF and KDP are ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials, so the combination may result in a synergistic interaction. PVDF and KDP were dissolved in water/dimethylformamide at $$70{^\circ }\hbox {C}$$ . The solutions were deposited by casting to obtain films. The samples were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. XRD tests of the samples showed that hydrated PVDF films resume crystallinity up to a maximum content of 3.0% by weight of KDP. FTIR confirmed the possibility of adjusting the intensity of the alpha ( $$\upalpha )$$ - and beta ( $$\upbeta )$$ -phase peaks in the polymer through water and KDP contents. Finally, the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss factor of the new materials at room temperature were determined.