A Comparative Analysis of Flexible Polymer-Based Poly(vinylidene) Fluoride (PVDF) Films for Pressure Sensing Applications

Abstract

Recently polymers and polymer-based materials are gaining lots of interest in various fields of research and development among the research community. Similarly, polymer-based piezoelectric materials are also receiving equal attention in various applications of sensors, transducers, actuators, and portable energy harvesting devices. However, many polymers available in the market, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), are marking their new milestone as a futuristic material in the applications of a self-powered electromechanical device. Therefore, in this research work, flexible PVDF thin films are fabricated via a solution casting technique for pressure-sensing applications. Further nanofillers such as Zinc oxide (ZnO) and Titanium dioxide (TiO2) with different weight percentages (0.2,0.4,0.6 and 0.8wt.%) are doped into PVDF polymer solution to enhance the electroactive phase, which eventually increases the electro potential properties. Microstructures of nanofillers and fabricated pure PVDF and PVDF nanofilms were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Further, pure PVDF and PVDF nanofilms were tested for piezoelectric performance using a four-probe digital oscilloscope. Finally, the outputs were analyzed and simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics.