Different Methods of Changing Piezoelectric Properties in Poly(vinylidene fluoride): A Review

Recently, the supply of electrical energy from sustainable and renewable energies such as mechanical, thermal and solar energy has been expanded. Piezoelectric materials are one of the best alternatives for supplying electrical energy from the mechanical energy available in nature such as mechanical force, vibration and human body movements. The applications for piezoelectric energy harvester include low power electronics or wireless sensing at relatively lower power levels (nW to mW) with an aim to reduce a reliance on batteries or electrical power through cables and realize fully autonomous and self-powered systems. In fact, the piezoelectric property is the property of a special material that enables the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. Piezoelectric property was discovered in ceramics for the first time. However, because of the need to piezoelectric materials with large surfaces and high flexibility in many applications, and the relatively low price and simple manufacturing technology of polymers in comparison with ceramics, polymers are used extensively. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a semicrystalline polymer with ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. It has five distinctive configurations. β-phase is a polar phase showing significant piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity due to the highest dipolar moment and spontaneous polarization. In this review, PVDF polymer is introduced and then the different strategies for identification and quantification of PVDF phases are summarized. Finally, various methods including stretching, high pressure, ultra-fast cooling, melt quenching, using polar solvents, poling, copolymerization, polymer blending, electrospinning and filler addition such as carbon nanotube, clay, metals and metal salts, ceramics and etc., have been discussed for β-phase enhancement.