▎ 摘　　要

Composites based on polyurethane (PU) or P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) terpolymer (T30) filled with various amounts of 60-nm thick graphene nanoflakes were prepared. The dielectric properties, including relative permittivity, loss tangent, and conductivity over a broad range of frequencies were presented and discussed according to the percolation theory. The percolation threshold was found to differ for the two systems, respectively, 7.2 and 3.0 vol. % for the PU and the T30 composites. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that there was practically no interaction between the polymeric matrix and the fillers. The increase in permittivity could not be related to this very slight modification of the polymer but rather to the space charges induced by the graphene flakes. Moreover, measurements of the thickness strain under an applied electric field demonstrated a twofold increase of the actuation capability. The optimal value of the M-33 electrostriction coefficient was for both systems obtained for a filler content somewhat lower than the percolation threshold. The PU-graphene composite exhibited better performances compared to its T30-graphene counterpart and this was attributed to the good ratio of relative permittivity to the Young modulus in addition to the specific morphology of the used polyurethane. The energy harvesting properties were investigated by monitoring the evolution of the current under a DC electric field and under AC mechanical strain. The T30-graphene composite was found to be the best material for energy harvesting as previously predicted based on its high permittivity. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4718577]