Enhanced piezoelectric performance of rare earth complex-doped sandwich-structured electrospun P(VDF-HFP) multifunctional composite nanofiber membranes

In this paper, the electrospinning of Polyvinylidene hexafluoropropylene (P(VDF-HFP)) composite nanofibers was performed by adding rare earth complexes Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2 and FeCl3·6H2O as fillers. The effects of Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2 and FeCl3·6H2O fillers on the morphology, crystal structure, thermal properties, and fluorescence properties of P(VDF-HFP) composite nanofibers were investigated by the scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence. The mechanical properties, sensitivity, ferroelectric properties, and piezoelectric output of monolayer and sandwich structure composite nanofiber membranes used as sensors were studied. The results show that the synergistic effect of double fillers increases the content of β-phase with piezoelectric properties by nearly 20%, reaching 96.9%. The sandwich structure of the PU/P(VDF-HFP)-Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2-FeCl3·6H2O/PU flexible sensor has high sensitivity (~ 0.29 kPa− 1), high piezoelectric output (~ 3.7 V), high strain (~ 230%), and fluorescence characteristics. It is expected to be applied in wearable flexible sensors, photoelectric devices, and other fields.