Fabrication and characterisation of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposites for energy harvesting applications

Abstract

Three systems of electrospun composite membranes with piezoelectric polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as matrix incorporating: 1) Carbon based fillers: carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene oxide (GO); 2) Ceramic based fillers-barium titanate (BT), zinc oxide (ZnO) and nanoclays (halloysite and bentonite); 3) Cellulosic fillers: microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) at different loadings were prepared by electrospinning process. Influence of filler type and loading on total PVDF crystallinity (Xc), relative fraction of β phase (piezoelectric phase) in total crystalline PVDF (Fβ), volume fraction of β phase in the samples (vβ) and piezoelectric coefficient d33 were characterised and analysed. Correlation between vβ and piezoelectric performance (d33) will be focused by this work. A common situation was observed for the composites-d33 increased while vβ is reduced by the fillers, so it can be concluded that d33 of the composites is not totally up to their vβ, there are other factors that need to be taken into account. For example, for carbon based filler like CNT, it increased electric conductivity of sample during and after electrospinning process, making it easier for charges produced by β crystals from inside of sample to be transferred to surfaces of the sample, and possibly promoting orientation of β crystals in d33 direction, therefore enhanced d33 of the composites though β phase formation was significantly hindered by inclusion of CNT; For piezoelectric ceramic fillers like BT and ZnO, a possible combined piezoelectricity from filler and β phase PVDF might enhanced d33 though less β phase was formed; And for non-piezoelectric and non-conductive fillers, enhancement in orientation of β crystals might play a major role in promotion of d33. Keywords: electrospinning; polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); nanocomposites; piezoelectric coefficient d33; energy harvesting.