Piezoelectric performance of electrospun PVDF and PVDF composite fibers: a review and machine learning-based analysis

The development of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers via electrospinning has driven the research of piezoelectric materials toward applications in self-powered generators with superior flexibility, great biocompatibility, and high electric output. In the last decade, many studies have been conducted on improving the piezoelectric properties of electrospun PVDF fibers by introducing fillers or additives. In this work, studies that produced and characterized electrospun PVDF and PVDF composite fibers were summarized. Machine learning was used to analyze existing data and establish models that can predict the piezoelectric output of PVDF composite fibers from material and synthesis parameters with good accuracy. This work provides extensive review and unique perspectives on the current advancements and challenges in using fillers to enhance the flexibility and piezoelectricity of PVDF fibers, an approach that bears great potential in the field of high-performance energy harvesting systems.