Composites of Core/Shell-Structured Copper-Phthalocyanine-Decorated TiO₂ Particles Embedded in Poly(Arylene Ether Nitrile) Matrix with Enhanced Dielectric Properties

Abstract

Polymer-based composite films were prepared by employing core/shell-structured tetranitrophthalocyanine copper/titanium dioxide (TNCuPc–TiO₂) hybrid particles as fillers and poly(arylene ether nitrile)s (PEN) as polymer matrix. Core/shell-structured TNCuPc–TiO₂ hybrid particles were successfully synthesized through a facile solvothermal synthesis route. Compared with raw TiO₂, the dispersibility and interfacial compatibility between TNCuPc–TiO₂ hybrid particles and PEN matrix were observably improved because the TNCuPc decorated on the TiO₂ can interact with nitrile groups in PEN. Consequently, core/shell-structured TNCuPc–TiO₂ had a more significant enhancement effect on the properties of PEN. Although the mechanical strength was reduced to 41 MPa, all of the composite films exhibited excellent thermal stability. Their initial decomposition temperatures were up to 510°C, and the glass-transition temperatures were over 191°C. More importantly, the permittivity of the composite film was as high as 19.8 at 100 Hz when the weight fraction of TNCuPc–TiO₂ hybrid particle loading reached 40.0 wt.%. Compared with the permittivity of PEN/TiO₂ composite films with 40.0 wt.% raw TiO₂ particle loading, the dielectric constant was increased by 161%.