The Effect of Electrospinning Parameters on Piezoelectric PVDF-TrFE Nanofibers: Experimental and Simulation Study

Abstract

Polyvinylidene fluoride and its copolymers can be used as active materials for energy harvesting and environmental sensing. Energy harvesting is one of the most recent research techniques for producing stable electrical energy from mechanical sources. Polyvinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) is applicable for sensors and self-powered devices such as medical implants and wearable electronic devices. The preparation of electrospun P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers is of great interest for the fabrication of sensors and self-powered devices, nanogenerators, and sensors. In this regard, it is necessary to investigate the effects of various parameters on the morphology and piezoelectric output voltage of such nanofibers. In this study, we have examined the effect of concentration and feed rate on the nanofiber diameter. It has been found that by increasing the concentration and feed rate of the polymer solution, the diameter of the nanofibers increases. The experimental results and the finite element method (FEM) simulation have also shown consistency; when the nanofiber diameter increases, the output voltage of the nanofibers decreases. This behavior can be related to the strain reduction in the deformed nanofibers.