Origin of temperature dependent conductivity of $\alpha$-polyvinylidene fluoride

TL;DR

This study investigates the temperature-dependent ionic conductivity of $ extalpha$-PVDF, revealing its close relation to the amorphous phase and confirming previous findings about its ionic conduction above the glass transition.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the origin of ionic conductivity in $ extalpha$-PVDF, linking it specifically to the amorphous phase through dielectric measurements.

Findings

Ionic conductivity increases above the glass transition temperature.

Conductivity is closely related to the amorphous phase of $ extalpha$-PVDF.

Results confirm earlier literature on ionic conduction in this polymer.

Abstract

The conductivity of $\alpha$-polyvinylidene fluoride ($\alpha$-PVDF) is obtained from dielectric measurements performed in the frequency domain at several temperatures. At temperatures above the glass-transition, the conductivity can be interpreted as an ionic conductivity, which confirms earlier results reported in the literature. Our investigation shows that the observed ionic conductivity is closely related to the amorphous phase of the polymer.