Dielectric and electric conductivity studies of PVA (Mowiol 10-98) doped with MWCNTs and WO₃ nanocomposites films

In this article, we report the doping of MWCNTs and WO₃ nanoparticles into the PVA matrix for fabricating a novel class of PVA nanocomposite using solvent casting method. The behavioral effect of these embedded nanoparticles in PVA matrix for different doping concentrations on microstructural, dielectric and electric properties are analyzed for possible device applications. The formation of nanocomposites and their microstructural variations for different doping concentration were inspected by x-ray diffraction studies. As the doping concentration increases from x = 0 to 7.5wt%, the DC conductivity rises from 1.0528 × 10⁻¹¹ to 3.7764 × 10⁻⁹ S cm⁻¹ and beyond the dopant concentration x > 7.5 wt% the DC conductivity was found to decrease. The frequency dependent dielectric constant decreases with an increase in dopant concentration. The values of electric modulus, AC conductivity and polarization relaxation time extracted from dielectric data spectacles an enhancement behavior in conducting property of PVA nanocomposites with increasing concentration up to x = 7.5 wt% and above x > 7.5 wt% the values found decreasing. The information regarding the surface morphology and chemical configuration of the nanocomposites are determined by using atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis of x-rays (EDS) techniques. (paper)