Enhancement of Piezoelectric Performance of PVDF-HFP Nanofibers Through Quenching Method of Post-processing Treatment

Confronting the decreasing of non-renewable energies such as coal and crude oil and increasing environmental pollution by the usage of chemical batteries, along with the growth of smart devices and wearable electronics is increasing rapidly therefore there’s a need to develop lightweight, green energy conversion and power supply devices. Piezoelectric materials have gained immense attention in recent years for their remarkable ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa, making them crucial for various applications in sensors, actuators, energy harvesting, and health monitoring. Polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) nanofibers have emerged as a promising candidate due to their inherent piezoelectric properties. This study explores a novel post-processing treatment method known as quenching to enhance the piezoelectric performance of PVDF-HFP nanofibers. The quenching process involves rapid cooling of PVDF-HFP nanofibers after electrospinning, leading to unique structural changes at the nanoscale. Mainly, it discusses the key findings and benefits of quenching, including increased crystallinity, alignment of polymer chains, and improved piezoelectric coefficients. Furthermore, the effect of quenching parameters, such as temperature and cooling rate on the final performance of PVDF-HFP nanofibers is explored. The results demonstrate that quenching significantly enhances the piezoelectric response of PVDF-HFP nanofibers making them more suitable for wider applications.