Nickel–polydimethylsiloxane (Ni–PDMS) nanocomposites were fabricated to investigate the influence of metallic nanoparticle loading on the dielectric behavior of flexible polymer matrices. Nickel nanoparticles with controlled size distributions were dispersed in PDMS using solution blending and curing protocols optimized to minimize agglomeration. The dielectric permittivity and loss tangent of the resulting nanocomposites were measured across a broad frequency range (typically 10²–10⁶ Hz) and at varying filler volume fractions. Results show a pronounced increase in relative permittivity with increasing Ni content, attributed to interfacial polarization (Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars effect) and the formation of microcapacitive structures within the polymer matrix. The study of dielectric materials has garnered significant attention due to their wide-ranging applications in various fields such as electronics, telecommunications, and medical devices. This thesis aims to investigate the dielectric permittivity of a composite material comprising nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The dielectric properties of this composite material are crucial for understanding its behavior in electrical and electronic applications [1-5]. The research involves the fabrication of NiNPs-PDMS composites using a suitable synthesis method, followed by comprehensive characterization of their dielectric properties. The experimental investigation includes the measurement of dielectric constant, loss tangent, and impedance spectroscopy over a broad frequency range. The results obtained from this study will contribute to enhancing the understanding of the dielectric behavior of NiNPs-PDMS composites and may have implications for the development of advanced electronic devices and insulation materials.

Dielectric permittivity, NiNPs-PDMS, Nanocomposites, Electrical properties, Polymer composites, Nanoparticle-polymer interactions.

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1. Oh W, Hajra S, Divya S, Panda S, Oh Y, Jaglic Z, Pakawanit P, Oh TH, Kim HJ. Contact electrification of porous PDMS–nickel ferrite composites for effective energy harvesting. Mater Sci Eng B. 2023;292:116397.
2. Feng P, Zhong M, Zhao W. Stretchable multifunctional dielectric nanocomposites based on polydimethylsiloxane mixed with metal nanoparticles. Mater Res Express. 2019;7(1):015007.
3. Zamani SM, Behdinan K. Molecular dynamics study of the mechanical and electrical properties of polydimethylsiloxane–Ni conductive nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol. 2020;200:108463.
4. Shetty HD, Prasad V. Existence of negative permittivity in carbon-coated iron nanoparticle–PDMS composites. Mater Chem Phys. 2017;196:153–159.
5. Revathy R, Kaipamangalath A, Surendran KP, Varma MR. Synthesis and characterization of Ni–BaTiO₃–PDMS composite for flexible magnetoelectric applications. In: AIP Conf Proc. 2020;2220(1):110036.
6. Denver H, Heiman T, Martin E, Gupta A, Borca-Tasciuc DA. Fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane composites with nickel nanoparticle and nanowire fillers and investigation of their mechanical and magnetic properties. J Appl Phys. 2009;106(6).
7. Zhu L, Xie D, Ma J, Shao J, Shen X. Fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane composites with nickel particles and nickel fibers and analysis of their magnetic properties. Smart Mater Struct. 2013;22(4):045015.
8. Canavese G, Lombardi M, Stassi S, Pirri CF. Comprehensive characterization of large piezoresistive variation in Ni–PDMS composites. Appl Mech Mater. 2012;110:1336–1344.
9. Khosla A, Korčok JL, Haiducu M, Gray BL, Leznoff DB, Parameswaran M. Preparation of nickel-doped multifunctional micro-patternable polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposites and characterization of their magnetic, electrical, and mechanical properties. Nanotech. 2010;2010:872–876.
10. Jang SH, Park YL, Yin H. Influence of coalescence on anisotropic mechanical and electrical properties of nickel powder/polydimethylsiloxane composites. Materials. 2016;9(4):239.

Nickel–polydimethylsiloxane (Ni–PDMS) nanocomposites were fabricated to investigate the influence of metallic nanoparticle loading on the dielectric behavior of flexible polymer matrices. Nickel nanoparticles with controlled size distributions were dispersed in PDMS using solution blending and curing protocols optimized to minimize agglomeration. The dielectric permittivity and loss tangent of the resulting nanocomposites were measured across a broad frequency range (typically 10²–10⁶ Hz) and at varying filler volume fractions. Results show a pronounced increase in relative permittivity with increasing Ni content, attributed to interfacial polarization (Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars effect) and the formation of microcapacitive structures within the polymer matrix. The study of dielectric materials has garnered significant attention due to their wide-ranging applications in various fields such as electronics, telecommunications, and medical devices. This thesis aims to investigate the dielectric permittivity of a composite material comprising nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The dielectric properties of this composite material are crucial for understanding its behavior in electrical and electronic applications [1-5]. The research involves the fabrication of NiNPs-PDMS composites using a suitable synthesis method, followed by comprehensive characterization of their dielectric properties. The experimental investigation includes the measurement of dielectric constant, loss tangent, and impedance spectroscopy over a broad frequency range. The results obtained from this study will contribute to enhancing the understanding of the dielectric behavior of NiNPs-PDMS composites and may have implications for the development of advanced electronic devices and insulation materials.

Dielectric permittivity, NiNPs-PDMS, Nanocomposites, Electrical properties, Polymer composites, Nanoparticle-polymer interactions.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Oh W, Hajra S, Divya S, Panda S, Oh Y, Jaglic Z, Pakawanit P, Oh TH, Kim HJ. Contact electrification of porous PDMS–nickel ferrite composites for effective energy harvesting. Mater Sci Eng B. 2023;292:116397.
2. Feng P, Zhong M, Zhao W. Stretchable multifunctional dielectric nanocomposites based on polydimethylsiloxane mixed with metal nanoparticles. Mater Res Express. 2019;7(1):015007.
3. Zamani SM, Behdinan K. Molecular dynamics study of the mechanical and electrical properties of polydimethylsiloxane–Ni conductive nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol. 2020;200:108463.
4. Shetty HD, Prasad V. Existence of negative permittivity in carbon-coated iron nanoparticle–PDMS composites. Mater Chem Phys. 2017;196:153–159.
5. Revathy R, Kaipamangalath A, Surendran KP, Varma MR. Synthesis and characterization of Ni–BaTiO₃–PDMS composite for flexible magnetoelectric applications. In: AIP Conf Proc. 2020;2220(1):110036.
6. Denver H, Heiman T, Martin E, Gupta A, Borca-Tasciuc DA. Fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane composites with nickel nanoparticle and nanowire fillers and investigation of their mechanical and magnetic properties. J Appl Phys. 2009;106(6).
7. Zhu L, Xie D, Ma J, Shao J, Shen X. Fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane composites with nickel particles and nickel fibers and analysis of their magnetic properties. Smart Mater Struct. 2013;22(4):045015.
8. Canavese G, Lombardi M, Stassi S, Pirri CF. Comprehensive characterization of large piezoresistive variation in Ni–PDMS composites. Appl Mech Mater. 2012;110:1336–1344.
9. Khosla A, Korčok JL, Haiducu M, Gray BL, Leznoff DB, Parameswaran M. Preparation of nickel-doped multifunctional micro-patternable polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposites and characterization of their magnetic, electrical, and mechanical properties. Nanotech. 2010;2010:872–876.
10. Jang SH, Park YL, Yin H. Influence of coalescence on anisotropic mechanical and electrical properties of nickel powder/polydimethylsiloxane composites. Materials. 2016;9(4):239.