Structural, electrical, and wettability properties of self-supporting PVDF/TiO2/GO composite films obtained by a solvent evaporation route

Abstract Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a versatile and low-cost polymer with high biocompatibility, mechanical strength, chemical resistance, thermal stability, and ferroelectricity. This material has been widely used in many applications, ranging from membranes to electronic devices. In this study, self-supporting, flexible, and lightweight PVDF films were prepared by an evaporation route using a low-toxicity solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide – DMSO). Graphene oxide (GO) and anatase titania (TiO2) were incorporated into the PVDF after preparing DMSO-based suspensions of these materials. The prepared materials were examined in terms of their structural, electrical, and wetting properties before and after exposure to near ultraviolet (UV-A) light. Substantial structural changes took place after incorporating GO and TiO2 into PVDF. Such modifications were accompanied by dramatic changes in the wetting and electrical properties of the PVDF. UV-A light caused the formation of surface defects on PVDF and GO films. In addition, it promoted the photoreduction of GO into reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Composites containing TiO2 showed high resistance to UV-A light, probably because titania particles absorb the incoming photons and shield the polymer matrix. This study provides new insights into the synthesis and characterization of PVDF/TiO2/GO composite films, which may be useful for many applications, including flexible electronics, solar cells, and biomedical devices.