Enhanced piezoelectric performance of electrospun PVDF nanofibers by regulating the solvent systems

Abstract

In recreant years, the attention of researchers has been focused on enhancing the electrical outputs of energy harvesting devices. This study reports the generation and characterization of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber webs obtained from different solvents (Acetone (ACE), ACE: N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) /3:1, ACE: DMF/1:1, ACE: DMF/1:3, and DMF). These electrospun webs will be used as active layers for piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG). We found that fibers electrospun using DMF have the highest phase content (F(β)), while fibers electrospun using ACE have the lowest one. Furthermore, the results show that PENG based on fiber web electrospun using DMF has the highest electrical outputs, whereas, the lowest electrical outputs were for PENG based on fiber web electrospun using ACE. We believe this work can serve as a good reference for investigating the effect of solvent systems on diameters of fibers, crystalline phases, and piezoelectric properties.

Piezoelectric Outputs of Electrospun PVDF Web as Full-Textile Sensor at Different Mechanical Excitation Frequencies

“…To achieve PVDF nanofiber mats with a high piezoelectric effect, precise control over the fabrication conditions is necessary. A customized electrospinning setup described in previous work [ 30 , 31 ] was used to prepare the PVDF nanofibrous mats. In short, PVDF pellets (MW 172,000, Sigma-Aldrich, Shanghai, China) were dissolved in a DMF-Acetone solvent mixture (4/6 v / v ) to obtain 10 wt% PVDF solutions, and then the solutions were placed in the syringe of the electrospinning setup.…”

Statistical Modeling and Optimization of Electrospinning for Improved Morphology and Enhanced β-Phase in Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanofibers

“…Bilal Zaarour et al described that when PVDF is electrospun using acetone or a DMF and acetone mixture it exhibits reduced piezoelectric sensitivity and consequently generates lower voltage compared to when pure DMF is used, despite having a higher β-phase content. This is attributed to the small fiber diameter and bead-free fibers achieved when electrospinning with DMF alone [25]. High-beaded nanofibers negatively impacts the mechanical properties and reduces the β-phase content in PVDF, as it prevents adequate fiber stretching [26].…”