Zinc Oxide nano-sized derived from Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 with enhanced electroactive properties of annealed homogenous composites film β-polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based composite films hold great potential for self-sensing actuator devices and water treatment applications due to their unique combination of mechanical strength and electroactive behavior. However, improving these properties remains a challenge in conventional polymer-based systems. In this study, we address these challenges by synthesizing Sodalite Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (SOD-ZIF-8) using a solvothermal method and incorporating thermally synthesized Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) into a PVDF matrix to form a composite film. Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the structural and morphological properties of the synthesized materials. The PVDF@ZnO composite film exhibited enhanced crystallinity, dielectric strength, and electroactive properties, as evidenced by the β-phase formation confirmed through FTIR and XRD analyses. These findings highlight that the ZnO nanoparticle incorporation not only strengthens the composite’s mechanical properties but also improves its dielectric and electric breakdown performance at room temperature. Consequently, the PVDF@ZnO composite films show significant promise for application in self-sensing actuator devices.