$\delta$-PVDF Based Flexible Nanogenerator

Abstract

Delta ($\delta$) phase comprising polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanoparticles are fabricated through electrospray technique by applying 0.1 MV/m electric field at ambient temperature and pressure, which is 10${}^3$ times lower than the typical value, required for $\delta$-phase transformation. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns are clearly indicating the $\delta$-phase formation. The piezo- and ferro- electric response of the $\delta$-PVDF nanoparticles has been demonstrated through scanning probe microscopic technique based on piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The vertical piezoelectric response, indicated by d${}_{33}$ coefficient, is found $\sim$-11 pm/V. Kink propagation model is adopted to justify the $\delta$-phase conversion in electrospray system. The electrical response from $\delta$-PVDF nanoparticle comprised nanogenerator under the external impacts and acoustic signal indicates that molecular ferroelectric dipoles responsible for piezoelectric responses, are poled in-situ during nanoparticle formation, thus further electrical poling is not necessary.