Journal article
Piezo-to-piezo (P2P) conversion: simultaneous β-phase crystallization and poling of ultrathin, transparent and freestanding homopolymer PVDF films via MHz-order nanoelectromechanical vibration
R Komljenovic, PC Sherrell, E Goudeli, AR Rezk, LY Yeo
Materials Horizons | ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY | Published : 2024
DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00794h
Abstract
An unconventional yet facile low-energy method for uniquely synthesizing neat poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) films for energy harvesting applications by utilizing nanoelectromechanical vibration through a ‘piezo-to-piezo’ (P2P) mechanism is reported. In this concept, the nanoelectromechanical energy from a piezoelectric substrate is directly coupled into another polarizable material (i.e., PVDF) during its crystallization to produce an optically transparent micron-thick film that not only exhibits strong piezoelectricity, but is also freestanding—properties ideal for its use for energy harvesting, but which are difficult to achieve through conventional synthesis routes. We show, particular..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for access to, and for the technical assistance (particularly that of Dr Chenglong Xu) associated with, the use of the equipment and facilities in the RMIT School of Science, the RMIT MicroNano Research Facility (MNRF), the RMIT Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility (RMMF) and the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD). In situ mid-IR spectroscopy and in situ GIWAXS measurements were respectively conducted on the THz and SAXS/WAXS beamlines at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) facility at the Australian Synchrotron; in particular, we acknowledge the scientific and technical assistance of Drs Dominique Appadoo and Nigel Kirby. This research was also supported by an AINSE Postgraduate Research Award (PGRA), for which Robert Komljenovic is grateful.