Solution blow spun piezoelectric nanofibers membrane for energy harvesting applications

Energy harvesting systems have benefited from the use of one-dimensional nanostructures such as nanofibers. For example, the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy has paved the way for nanofibers to be used in a wide range of applications. PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) has long been regarded as a promising material for piezoelectric applications. Furthermore, the solution blow spinning (SBS) technique, with its simple setup, can mass-produce nanofibers with the required properties for applications needing great flexibility while also attaining high piezoelectricity. The aim of this research is to investigate how electric voltage can be generated from flexible piezoelectric materials such as SBS PVDF nanofibers. Meanwhile, the nanofibers mats have been integrated into a basic setup that stimulates the generation of DC voltage under mechanical pressure produced by footsteps. The work followed a morphological characterization using SEM and studying the β-phase of the fabricated fibers using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and it was found that β phase content for solution blow spun nanofibers reached 80% and the β-crystalline phase was enhanced due to the transformation from α to β phases. Our manufactured SBS nanofibers can create electric voltage under the influence of mechanical stresses, to simulate the foot step pressure, with varying amplitude and vibrational frequency, according to piezoelectric analysis.