Superior Dielectric Performance of Engineering Thermoplastic as a Result of In situ Embedding of Nanoscale Mixed-Phase Molybdenum Oxide

To facilitate in situ generation of single and mixed-phase molybdenum oxide on the nanoscale in a network of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), a novel polymer–inorganic solid-state reaction is proposed. Ammonium molybdate was homogeneously mixed with PPS in 1:1 molar ratio and heated at 285°C for different times (6 h, 24 h, or 48 h) under ambient conditions. The products were characterized by x-ray diffractometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Structural investigations revealed the co-existence of mix-phased molybdenum oxide, i.e. dominant orthorhombic α-MoO3, and minor monoclinic Mo8O23 phases, within the modified PPS matrix. The resulting molybdenum oxide nanostructures had rod and sheet-like morphology in the PPS matrix. Dielectric measurements on pellets prepared from the resulting nanocomposites revealed improvement of the dielectric properties compared with values reported for pure PPS. The resulting nano-composites may exhibit properties synergistically derived from those of their components (molybdenum oxide and PPS), i.e. lower dielectric constant and loss tangent, enabling application as relatively high-temperature capacitors.