Development of poly (vinylidene fluoride)/silver nanoparticle electrospun nanofibre mats for energy harvesting

Energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials finds attention of researchers due to miniaturisation. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is one such polymeric material with high piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties and hence is used for sensors, actuators, energy harvesting and biomedical devices. This study reports electrospinning of PVDF/Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) nanofibre mats for energy harvesting. Nanofibre mats were prepared by adopting voltage (20 kV), flow rate (1.5 mL/hour) and tip to collector distance (19 cm). The fibre mats were characterised using Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). FTIR and XRD results showed 11.84% and 36.36% increase in beta-phase and crystallinity, respectively, due to the addition of 1.5 wt. % AgNP to PVDF. SEM micrographs showed decrease in bead formation and increase in fibre diameter from 40 nm to 355 nm due to the addition of AgNP. Sensitivity and voltage output were studied. The fibre mats were used for development of a miniature burglar alarm system, and its response to the applied pressure was tested.