Enhanced piezoresponse of electrospun PVDF mats with a touch of nickel chloride hexahydrate salt

Abstract

PVDF nanofibers are prepared using electrospinning. The effect of addition of a hydrated salt, nickel chloride hexahydrate (NiCl(2)·6H(2)O), on the phase formation is examined. Addition of the hydrated salt (NC) is found to enhance the polar β phase by about 30%. The peak to peak piezo-voltage generated for PVDF NC is almost 0.762 V, a factor of 3 higher than that for PVDF. The fiber mats exhibit a significantly enhanced dynamic strain sensor response. The voltage generated per unit micro-strain developed during the free vibration test for PVDF was 0.119 mV whereas it was 0.548 mV for PVDF NC, exhibiting a non-linearly enhanced performance vis a vis the increase in the β phase component.

Crystalline polymorphism in poly(vinylidenefluoride) membranes

“…The β phase in PVDF hydrated salt was considerably enhanced due to [139]. It is likely that hydrogen bonding between the water and the polar C-F bonds is responsible for this phase control.…”

Influence of High Aspect Ratio Lead‐Free Piezoelectric Fillers in Designing Flexible Fibrous Nanogenerators: Demonstration of Significant High Output Voltage

“…As the β phase is more desirable for piezoelectricity, there is a need to change α to the β phase for the mother PVDF polymer. There are different techniques for transfer from α to β , such as the incorporation of fillers, mechanical stretching, electrospinning, and poling . In addition, mechanical stretching trailed by outward poling at the higher electric field at a higher temperature is the more espoused technique for conversion of the nonpolar α crystalline phase to the electroactive β phase.…”

Full-fiber piezoelectric sensor by straight PVDF/nanoclay nanofibers

“…In the XRD and FTIR spectra of the straight PVDF/nanoclay fibers (Fig. 2), the α phase is almost vanish and the β phase is enhanced than 6 pristine PVDF and other PVDF composite system, such as PVDF/inorganic salt fibers [15]. Therefore, the output voltage of the straight PVDF/nanoclay fiber sensors is much higher.…”