Enhanced piezoelectric properties of electrospun PVDF nanofibers by integration of ZnO and MgZnO nanoparticles

In this study, synthesis and characterization of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) electrospun nanofibers incorporated with piezoelectric ZnO and MgZnO nanoparticles have been carried out for weight impact sensing applications. These nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning, employing specific electrode separation and electric field parameters. Various characterization techniques were employed to assess the structural and compositional properties of the resulting nanofibers mat. The analysis has revealed the preservation of elongated one-dimensional morphological features and the elemental composition of the nanofibers. Incorporation of ZnO and MgZnO nanoparticles induced modifications in the crystalline structure, favoring the formation of the polar β-phase. Further characterization through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the compositional structure, MgZnO nanoparticles presence, and an enhanced proportion of the β-phase of PVDF nanofibers. Additionally, the nanofibers sensing response to impact pressure was evaluated using a digital oscilloscope, demonstrating a notable increase in response amplitude from 1.0 V for PVDF/ZnO nanofibers mat to 1.7 V for PVDF/MgZnO nanofibers mat, within nanosecond timescales under identical impact conditions.