Elsevier, Polymer, 1(55), p. 226-234, 2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2013.11.045
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Novel copper nanowires (CuNWs)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanocomposites with high dielectric permittivity (ε′) and low dielectric loss (ε″) were prepared by a precipitation technique followed by melt compression. Their dielectric properties over the broadband frequency range, i.e. 101–106 Hz, were compared with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/PVDF nanocomposites prepared by the same technique. It was observed that the CuNWs/PVDF nanocomposites had higher dielectric permittivity, lower dielectric loss and thus significantly lower dissipation factor (tan δ) than the MWCNT/PVDF nanocomposites at room temperature. This behavior was ascribed to a higher conductivity of the fresh core of the CuNWs relative to the MWCNT, which provided the composites with a higher amount of mobile charge carriers participating in the interfacial polarization. Moreover, the presence of oxide layers on the CuNWs surfaces diminished the conductive network formation leading to a low dielectric loss.