Fabrication and Characterization of Non-Equilibrium Plasma-Treated PVDF Nanofiber Membrane-Based Sensors (original) (raw)

A Review of Piezoelectric PVDF Film by Electrospinning and Its Applications

Sensors

With the increase of interest in the application of piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in nanogenerators (NGs), sensors, and microdevices, the most efficient and suitable methods of their synthesis are being pursued. Electrospinning is an effective method to prepare higher content β-phase PVDF nanofiber films without additional high voltage poling or mechanical stretching, and thus, it is considered an economically viable and relatively simple method. This work discusses the parameters affecting the preparation of the desired phase of the PVDF film with a higher electrical output. The design and selection of optimum preparation conditions such as solution concentration, solvents, the molecular weight of PVDF, and others lead to electrical properties and performance enhancement in the NG, sensor, and other applications. Additionally, the effect of the nanoparticle additives that showed efficient improvements in the PVDF films was discussed as well. For instance, additives o...

Electrospun PVDF Nanofibers for Piezoelectric Applications: A Review of the Influence of Electrospinning Parameters on the β Phase and Crystallinity Enhancement

Polymers, 2021

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is among the most attractive piezo-polymers due to its excellent piezoelectricity, lightweight, flexibility, high thermal stability, and chemical resistance. PVDF can exist under different forms of films, membranes, and (nano)fibers, and its piezoelectric property related to its β phase content makes it interesting for energy harvesters and wearable applications. Research investigation shows that PVDF in the form of nanofibers prepared by electrospinning has more flexibility and better air permeability, which make them more suitable for these types of applications. Electrospinning is an efficient technique that produces PVDF nanofibers with a high β phase fraction and crystallinity by aligning molecular dipoles (–CH2 and –CF2) along an applied voltage direction. Different nanofibers production techniques and more precisely the electrospinning method for producing PVDF nanofibers with optimal electrospinning parameters are the key focuses of this paper....

Hydrophilization of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Nanofibers by Plasma Treatment and Its Effect on Nanoparticle Deposition

NANOCON 2021 Conference Proeedings, 2021

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymeric nanofibers deposited by roller electrospinning on polypropylene nonwoven fabric were treated with atmospheric pressure plasma to hydrophilize its surface. Diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) was employed to generate low-temperature atmospheric plasma in ambient air. Changes in wettability were determined by evaluating water contact angles before and after plasma treatment for various treatment times. The effect of aging of plasma-treated surfaces stored in laboratory conditions was studied in the course of storage time. The chemical composition of the surfaces was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) which showed a decrease in carbon and an increase in oxygen atomic concentrations. Subsequently, significant differences in loading of iron oxide nanoparticles between treated and untreated PVDF samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Comprehensive Characterization of PVDF Nanofibers at Macro- and Nanolevel

Polymers, 2022

This study is focused on the characterization and investigation of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers from the point of view of macro- and nanometer level. The fibers were produced using electrostatic spinning process in air. Two types of fibers were produced since the collector speed ( 300rpm and 2000rpm) differed as the only one processing parameter. Differences in fiber’s properties were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with cross-sections observation utilizing focused ion beam (FIB). The phase composition was determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The crystallinity was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and chemical analysis of fiber’s surfaces and bonding states were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Other methods, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM), were employed to describe morphology and piezoelectric response of single fiber, ...

Dielectric Behavior and Transport Properties of Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanofiber Membrane

Nanotechnology & applications, 2021

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a chemical resistance polymer with high ferroelectric, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. PVDF has been chosen due to its unique properties compared with others in the polymers family and is used in a variety of sensors and transducers. A PVDF nanofiber membrane with relatively uniform morphology was prepared by an electrospinning technique. The surface morphology of the electrospun PVDF nanofibers was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microstructure of electrospun PVDF nanofibers was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the range 400 to 4000 cm-1. The functional groups were identified in the membrane. Infrared vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR + Raman) curves revealed a ferroelectric β-phase in the un-annealed membrane intrinsically. It showed that the electrospinning technique induce crystalline and polar β-phase by applying an electric field to the PVDF polymer solution during high solution jet stretching. The membrane (7 mm x5 mm) with full-face copper electrodes was produced to form a capacitor for testing.

Polyvinylidene Difluoride Piezoelectric Electrospun Nanofibers: Review in Synthesis, Fabrication, Characterizations, and Applications

Journal of Nanomaterials, 2018

This review article highlights the methods and principles used for PVDF nanofiber creation and the use of these nanofibers in different fields by utilizing its piezoelectric performance, etc. The studies include different techniques to improve the alignment and piezoelectric behavior of nanofibers. The pressure versus sensitivity behavior of PVDF substrate is thoroughly analyzed. The optimum conditions (of experimental parameters) of the electrospinning technique are carefully studied to improve the structure, alignment, and performance of the generated nanofiber mats. In addition to experimental methods, the preparation of nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) also can improve the structure, alignment, and piezoelectric performance. The characterization tools used for the analyses of fabricated nanofibers are also discussed, in addition, to analyze the piezoelectric results of the targeted nanocomposite.

Enhanced piezoelectric response in nanoclay induced electrospun PVDF nanofibers for energy harvesting

Energy, 2019

Templated nanofibers of poly(vinylidene fluoride) have been designed on top of two dimensional nanoclay platelets for energy harvesting application. Dimension of nanofiber has been varied using different nanoclay content prepared through optimized electrospinning. The alteration in structure (electroactive phase) and morphology has been worked out as a function of nanoclay concentration. Nearly 90% piezoelectric active phase has been stabilized in presence of minimum quantity of nanoclay. Hybrid nanofiber is found to be tougher (300%) and stiffer by design, which in turn suitable for device application. Unimorph using hybrid nanofiber exhibits power generation up to 100 ms against less than 50 ms tenure using pristine fiber. Device has been fabricated using various nanofibers and demonstrates very high output voltage (70 V) and power density (68µW.cm-2) from the device made of hybrid nanofiber. Various modes of body movements e.g. bending, twisting, walking, foot and finger tapping can generate considerable power using the hybrid device and are able to transform waste mechanical energy to useful electric power. Underlying mechanism of charge separation in template system has been revealed which explain the high conversion of energy using the hybrid device.

Control of diameter, morphology, and structure of PVDF nanofiber fabricated by electrospray deposition

Journal of Polymer Science Part B-polymer Physics, 2006

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers were prepared by electrospray deposition (ESD). To control the diameter, morphology, and structure of PVDF nanofibers, some parameters were investigated, such as polymer concentration, nozzle-to-ground collector distance, feeding rate of the polymer solution, and applied voltage. The fabricated fiber was 80–700 nm in diameter. The increase in the polymer concentration caused an increase in the polymer viscosity and fiber diameter. At low polymer concentration (5 wt %), polymer nanoparticles were formed. An increase in applied voltage will increase the fiber diameter. Variation in the nozzle-to-ground collector distance did not result in significant changes in the fiber diameter. Increase in the feeding rate of the polymer solution decreased the fiber diameter. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurements showed that the melting point and total crystallinity were decreased. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurement revealed that ESD process induced the formation of the oriented β-phase PVDF structures. It was also demonstrated that the addition of hydrofluorocarbon solvent to polymer solution remarkably enhanced the formation of β-phase crystalline structure of PVDF nanofiber. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 779–786, 2006