Effect of Solvent on the Dielectric Properties of Nanocomposite Poly(methyl methacrylate)-Doped Titanium Dioxide Dielectric Films

A poly(methyl methacrylate)-doped titanium dioxide (PMMA:TiO2) nanocomposite film was obtained by spin coating the nanocomposite solution onto a silicon substrate. The nanocomposite solutions were prepared by dissolving the PMMA and TiO2 nanopowder in three different types of organic solvent, namely, toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and acetone. We found that the dielectric properties of the PMMA:TiO2 nanocomposite are dependent on the type of solvent used. The dielectric properties measured at a frequency of 1 kHz showed that acetone gives the highest dielectric constant and capacitance compared with toluene and THF. Toluene gives the lowest dielectric loss among the three. The topography and roughness of the PMMA:TiO2 nanocomposite indicate that a particular solvent results in a different kind of surface morphology. (C) 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics