Multi-nozzle solution blow spinning setup for high production of piezoelectric PVDF nanofibers air filters

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric nanofibers have shown high potential in producing membranes for energy harvesting, wearable self-powered electronics, or air filtration due to their exceptional piezoelectric properties. Therefore, there is a critical need to produce PVDF nanofibers on an industrial scale. Among different nanofibers manufacturing techniques, solution blow spinning (SBS) appears to be a suitable adaptation owing to its operational simplicity and high production rate. We developed a multi-nozzle SBS system to increase the PVDF nanofibers production rate and examined how the number of SBS nozzles (1, 2, and 5) and solution feed rate influence the properties of the produced nanofibers. Beyond productivity, we assessed the nanofibers’ morphology, crystallinity, piezoelectric performance, and mechanical strength to ensure quality consistency across setups. The resulting membranes were also tested for air filtration efficiency against PM0.3, which is the most penetrating particle size (MPPS), using the TSI 8150 automated filter tester. The results showed that the 5-nozzle SBS system had a significant production rate up to 5 times that of the single-nozzle setup and 25 times that of conventional electrospinning. Nanofibers quality remained consistent, with uniform diameters and enhanced β-phase content. In terms of mechanical properties, the tensile strength was enhanced from 19cN/mm2 for the 1 nozzle setup to 35 cN/mm2 for the 5 nozzle setup, indicating stronger and more robust membranes. Moreover, all the PVDF nanofibers achieved over 99% filtration efficiency and a significantly high quality factor of 0.0292 Pa-1 which is comparable with commercial air filters. This work delivers a practical multi-nozzle SBS design that not only scales up PVDF nanofiber production but also highlights their potential for real-world applications like air filtration.