Vol.:(0123456789) hps://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-10591-x J Mater Sci Composites & nanocomposites Dielectric properties of PVA/FeGaInS₄ composites: effects of temperature and concentration of fillers Mustafa Muradov 1 , Zeynab Addayeva 1, * , Namiq Niftiyev 2 , Faik Mammadov 2,3 , Goncha Eyvazova 1 , and Mahammad Baghir Baghirov 1 1 Nano Research Laboratory, Baku State University, 23 Academik Zahid Khalilov Street, 1148 Baku, Azerbaijan 2 Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, AZ1000 Baku, Azerbaijan 3 Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry, AZ1143 Baku, Azerbaijan ABSTRACT This study investigates the dielectric behavior of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) com- posites incorporating FeGaInS 4 layered crystals as fillers at varying weight con- centrations (1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 5 wt.%, and 8 wt.%), synthesized using the solution mixing method. The layered structure of FeGaInS₄ facilitates distinctive inter- facial interactions with the polymer matrix, potentially augmenting dielectric properties. Structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffractometry and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while dielectric properties were assessed via dielectric spectroscopy across different filler concentrations, temperatures, and frequencies of applied alternating current. FTIR analysis elu- cidated polymer-filler interactions, and dielectric spectroscopy results demon- strated an increase in dielectric permiivity with temperature and a decrease with frequency. Notably, the composite with 1 wt.% filler exhibited the highest dielectric permiivity, aributed to the uniform dispersion of FeGaInS₄ crystals within the matrix, enhancing interfacial polarization. The tangent loss angle was observed to rise with temperature, corresponding to increased electrical conduc- tivity. The Correlated Barrier Hopping (CBH) model was applied to evaluate system parameters (s, WM, Rω, and N) for PVA and FeGaInS₄-based composites at 293 K and 313 K under a frequency of 2 × 10 3 Hz, indicating charge transport via electron hopping between localized states mediated by zone and hopping conductivity mechanisms. Activation energy values were determined for com- posites with varying filler concentrations, ranging from 0.71–0.30 eV for pure PVA to 1.46–0.85 eV (1 wt.%), 0.57–0.27 eV (3 wt.%), 0.71–0.30 eV (5 wt.%), and 0.70–0.34 eV (8 wt.%). The findings reveal that increasing the semiconductor filler content enhances electrical conductivity, underscoring the potential for optimiz- ing the dielectric and electrical properties of PVA composites through controlled filler concentration. Received: 21 September 2024 Accepted: 30 December 2024 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature, 2025 Handling Editor: Gregory Rutledge. Address correspondence to E-mail: zeynabramazan5399@gmail.com