Enhanced dielectric response in all-organic polyaniline-poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) composite

The dielectric response of an all-organic composite, comprising conductive polyaniline particles dispersed in the poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) terpolymer matrix, was studied. The pure terpolymer exhibits dielectric properties typical for inorganic relaxors, yet with much lower values of the dielectric constant. On the other hand, admixture of polyaniline, whose conductivity follows the Mott's variable range hopping behavior, strongly increases the dielectric constant of the terpolymer, particularly on approaching the percolation threshold. The frequency dependence of the composite's dielectric response is tentatively described in terms of the extended Maxwell-Wagner mixture approach.