Herein, we investigated the influence of two types of nanoparticle fillers, i.e., amorphous SiO₂ and crystalline ZrO₂, on the structural properties of their nanocomposites with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The composite films were prepared by melt-blending with a filler content that varied from 1% to 20% v/v. The composites were characterized by small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For both fillers, the nanoaggregates were evenly distributed in the polymer matrix and their initial state in the powders determined their surface roughness and fractal character. In the case of the nano-ZrO₂ filler, the lamellar thickness and crystallinity degree remain unchanged over a broad range of filler concentrations. SANS and SEM investigation showed poor interfacial adhesion and the presence of voids in the interfacial region. Temperature-programmed SANS investigations showed that at elevated temperatures, these voids become filled due to the flipping motions of polymer chains. The effect was accompanied by a partial aggregation of the filler. For nano-SiO₂ filler, the lamellar thickness and the degree of crystallinity increased with increasing the filler loading. SAXS measurements show that the ordering of the lamellae is disrupted even at a filler content of only a few percent. SEM images confirmed good interfacial adhesion and integrity of the SiO₂/HDPE composite. This markedly different impact of both fillers on the composite structure is discussed in terms of nanoparticle surface properties and their affinity to the HDPE matrix.

The dimensional effect of electric charge storage with a density of up to 270 μF/g by the hydrated ZrO₂-nanoparticles system was determined. It was found that the place of localization of different charge carriers is the generalized heterophase boundary-nanoparticles surface. The supposed mechanism of the effect was investigated using the theory of dispersed systems, the band theory, and the theory of contact phenomena in semiconductors, which consists of the formation of localized electronic states in the nanoparticle material due to donor–acceptor interaction with the adsorption ionic atmosphere. The effect is relevant for modern nanoelectronics, microsystem technology, and printed electronics because it allows overcoming the basic physical restrictions on the size, temperature, and operation frequency of the device, caused by leakage currents.

Eurasian Journal of Physics and Functional Materials