Doping of polyvinylidene difluoride with cobalt nitrate: Structural,electrical, and magnetic properties

Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) doped with a few percentage of cobalt nitrate hexahydrate induces transition into the ferroelectric β‐phase. Infrared spectra show peaks indicative of β‐phase PVDF at 1277 cm^?1 and loss of the α‐phase peak at 790 cm^?1 while polarization measurements show loops consistent with relaxor ferroelectric behavior. Electronic spectroscopy shows that the Co²⁺ ion is in a six‐coordinate environment, and this is confirmed by magnetic susceptibility. Thermal measurements show that the PVDF melts near 155 °C, depending on the Co²⁺ content, and that there are several other thermal features that are associated with the hydrated cobalt nitrate. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012