Polyvinyl alcohol/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonic acid)/copper (II) oxide nanocomposites as high performance dielectric materials for energy storage applications

Solution casting technique was adopted to prepare Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS)/Copper (II) Oxide (CuO) nanocomposites. Structural, morphological and thermal properties of the PVA/PEDOT:PSS/CuO nanocomposites revealed good interaction between polymer blend and the CuO NPs. Further, dielectric behaviour of the prepared nanocomposites was performed and the PVA/PDEDOT:PSS/CuO nanocomposite with 15% of CuO NPs showed maximum dielectric constant (ε = 3615.62 at 50 Hz, 150 °C), dielectric loss (Tanδ = 11.37 at 50 Hz, 150 °C) and AC conductivity (σ = 1.67 × 10 S m at 150 °C). Further, the Cole–Cole plots exhibited the semicircular arcs with fitted impedance data along with equivalent circuits were represented. The higher dielectric constant, lower dielectric loss, and enhancement in the AC conductivity with the increase in the nanofiller contents decrease the impedance and capacitive reactance in the PVA/PEDOT:PSS/CuO nanocomposites. Thus, the enhanced dielectric properties of the nanocomposites are suggested to be promising materials for energy storage applications.