Nonlinear Electrical Conducting Behavior of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Composites Filled with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composites filled with pristine/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) will be prepared by melt compounding followed by hot pressing. The current voltage (I-V) responses of the PVDF/MWNT and PVDF/CNF nanocomposites will be determined and analyzed. It is antipated that the I-V responses of percolating nanocomposites filled with MWNTs or CNFs would exhibit nonlinear behavior. The mechanisms responsible for nonlinear conducting behavior of such percolating nanocomposites will be investigated.