Optimizing Solution Blow Spinning of PVDF Nanofibers : A Study on Morphology, Crystalline Phases, and Piezoelectric Performance

Abstract

This study investigates optimizing the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber (NF-PVDF) mats produced via the solution blow spinning (SBS) technique, with a focus on characterizing the morphological, crystalline, and piezoelectric response properties for energy harvesting applications. NF-PVDF mats were fabricated with varying PVDF solution concentrations with values of 12 wt.%, 15 wt.%, and 18 wt.%, solution feeding rates of 3 mL/hr. and 7 mL/hr., and the distance between the spraying nozzle and collecting roller with 25 cm and 50 cm values. The resulting nanofibers were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to assess fiber diameters, fiber agglomerations, and the presence of beads. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to determine the crystalline structure, specifically analyzing the crystallite size and beta phase content. The piezoelectric response of the NF-PVDF mats was evaluated by measuring the piezoelectric coefficient d33 and the generated output voltage under applied cyclic forces of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 N at a frequency of 1Hz. The results demonstrated that the fabrication parameters significantly influence the nanofibers' morphology and crystalline structure, which in turn affect the piezoelectric properties. Factors such as finer nanofiber diameters and minimal beads and agglomerations presences influence the piezoelectric performance. The study provides critical insights into the relationship between SBS processing parameters and the functional properties of PVDF nanofibers, paving the way for the development of high-performance piezoelectric materials for use in energy harvesting applications.