Poly(vinylidene fluoride) electrospun non-woven nanofibers based piezoelectric nanogenerator

Abstract

PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) and its copolymers are the most promising piezoelectric polymers in sensors, actuators, and energy harvesting, owing to a repetitive structure - [CH2 - CF2]n - and 50% crystalline. In the present study, we examined the influence of multi-jet (32 jets) electrospinning with a randomized approach focused on three variables, which are feeding rate, the voltage applied, and tip-to-collector distance. Furthermore, the effect of single and double layer piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) was demonstrated under the pendulum impact loadings. The prepared nanofiber structures were characterized using FE-SEM, FTIR, and XRD. Outcomes from the morphological analysis appeared that the spinning parameter, the tip-to-collector distance, plays a crucial role in the formation of beads free with uniform distribution of nanofibers and β-phase formation. The fabricated PENG was able to generate a maximum open-circuit output of 24 V at 2.5 N from 50 μm thick nanofiber web under a single impact. In this way, the output voltage generated is sufficient for the operation of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), low-power electronics and energy harvesting. © 2020 IEEE.