Flexible polyvinylidene fluoride based nanocomposites with high and stable piezoelectric performance over a wide temperature range utilizing the strong multi-interface effect

Because of the good piezoelectric properties among polymers, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) has been extensively applied in constructing flexible sensors and energy harvesters. Recent progress towards high performance sensors and energy harvesters has trigged significant interest in the fabrication of PVDF materials with superior piezoelectricity and good thermal piezoelectric stablility. Herein, we reported a flexible PVDF based nanocomposite that maintained high and stable piezoelectricity over a wide temperature range from 10 to 100 degrees C through the strong multi-interface effect. In this work, PVDF was firstly blended with poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), and then dopamine modified BaTiO3 hollow nanoparticles were introduced into the blend polymer matrix. Through optimizing the fabrication process and modulating the mass ratio of PVDF-HFP and BaTiO3, notably strenghthened ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity was achieved in the final composites, wherein the piezoelectric coefficient d(33) reached a peak of 40 pC/N and showed good retention with increasing temperatures up to 100 degrees C.