Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/NH2-Treated Graphene Nanodot/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites with Enhanced Dielectric Performance for Ultrahigh Energy Density Capacitor

Silk Fibroin-Based Piezoelectric Sensor with Carbon Nanofibers for Wearable Health Monitoring Applications

The continuous real-time monitoring of human health using biomedical sensing devices has recently become a promising approach to the realization of distant health monitoring. In this paper, the piezoelectric characteristics of the silk fibroin (SF) natural polymer were analyzed as the material used for obtaining sensing information in the application of distance health monitoring. To enhance the SF piezoelectricity, this paper presents the development of a novel SF-based sensor realized by combining SF with different carbon nanofiber (CNF) densities, and for such newly developed SF-based sensors comprehensive performance analyses have been performed. Versatile methods including the scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman and X-ray diffraction measurements and impedance analysis were used to study the morphologic, mechanical and electrical properties of the developed SF-based sensor. The SF with CNF samples was analyzed for three different pressure loads (40 N, 60 N and 80 N) in 500 compression test cycles. The analyses thoroughly describe how combining natural polymer SF with different CNF densities impacts the piezoelectricity and mechanical strength of the proposed SF-based sensor. The developed piezoelectric SF-based sensors were further tested on humans in real medical applications to detect generated piezoelectric voltage in versatile body movements. The maximum piezoelectricity equal to 2.95 ± 0.03 V was achieved for the jumping movement, and the SF sample with a CNF density equal to 0.4% was tested. Obtained results also show that the proposed SF-based sensor has an appropriate piezoelectric sensitivity for each of the analyzed body movement types, and that the proposed SF-based sensor can be applied in real medical applications as a biomedical sensing device. The proposed SF-based sensor's practical implementation is further confirmed by the results of cytotoxicity analyses, which show that the developed sensor has a non-toxic and biocompatible nature and can be efficiently used in skin contact for biomedical wearable health monitoring applications.

A Review of Piezoelectric PVDF Film by Electrospinning and Its Applications

With the increase of interest in the application of piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in nanogenerators (NGs), sensors, and microdevices, the most efficient and suitable methods of their synthesis are being pursued. Electrospinning is an effective method to prepare higher content β-phase PVDF nanofiber films without additional high voltage poling or mechanical stretching, and thus, it is considered an economically viable and relatively simple method. This work discusses the parameters affecting the preparation of the desired phase of the PVDF film with a higher electrical output. The design and selection of optimum preparation conditions such as solution concentration, solvents, the molecular weight of PVDF, and others lead to electrical properties and performance enhancement in the NG, sensor, and other applications. Additionally, the effect of the nanoparticle additives that showed efficient improvements in the PVDF films was discussed as well. For instance, additives of BaTiO3, carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanoclays, and others are summarized to show their contributions to the higher piezo response in the electrospun PVDF. The recently reported applications of electrospun PVDF films are also analyzed in this review paper.

Isothermal Crystallization Behavior of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Based Membrane with Graphene Oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) sheets were obtained via an improved Hummer's method, and the Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/GO membranes employing GO as nucleating agent were prepared by solution casting. The crystalline behaviors and the crystallization kinetics of PVDF/GO membranes with varying GO concentration were investigated after isothermal crystallization at different temperatures. The results showed that the addition of GO induced the β-phase formation of PVDF. The spherulite diameter reached the peak value when the content of GO was 0.1 wt%, then reduced to the minimum value at 1 wt% GO within the tested temperature range of isothermal crystallization. It is worth mentioning that the relative fraction of β phase F(β) was dramatically improved to 0.85 for the PVDF/GO membrane with 0.5 wt% GO at 155°C. Furthermore, an enhancement of the crystallization rate was observed as the contents of GO increased in the system.

Enhanced permittivity of negative permittivity middle-layer sandwich polymer matrix composites through conductive filling with flake MAX phase ceramics

Polymer matrix composites are expected to promote the development of embedded packaging technology for circuit boards, but it is still impossible to obtain polymer matrix composites with high permittivity and low loss tangent simultaneously. In this study, a laminated composite with a middle-layer possessing negative permittivity effects was prepared by hot pressing sintering using MAX phase ceramics as a conductive filler. High permittivity (170@1 kHz) and low loss tangent (0.3@1 kHz) were achieved in traditional sandwich polymer matrix composites (SPMCs). Its high permittivity can be explained by the series capacitor model and the interfacial polarization promoted by the flake structure of the MAX phase ceramics. Low loss tangent is guaranteed by the ohmic barrier effect caused by the huge resistance difference between adjacent layers in the composite material. These SPMCs with special structure are expected to provide new ideas for developing embedded capacitors.

In this study, a laminated composite with a middle-layer possessing negative permittivity effects was prepared by hot pressing sintering using MAX phase ceramics as a conductive filler.

Development of In-Situ Poled Nanofiber Based Flexible Piezoelectric Nanogenerators for Self-Powered Motion Monitoring

Energy harvesting technologies have found significant importance over the past decades due to the increasing demand of energy and self-powered design of electronic and implantable devices. Herein, we demonstrate the design and application of in situ poled highly flexible piezoelectric poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) graphene oxide (GO) hybrid nanofibers in aligned mode for multifaceted applications from locomotion sensors to self-powered motion monitoring. Here we exploited the simplest and most versatile method, called electrospinning, to fabricate the in situ poled nanofibers by transforming non-polar α-phase of PVDF to polar β- phase structures for enhanced piezoelectricity under high bias voltage. The flexible piezoelectric device fabricated using the aligned mode generates an improved output voltage of 2.1 V at a uniform force of 12 N. The effective piezoelectric transduction exhibited by the proposed system was tested for its multiple efficacies as a locomotion detector, bio-e-skin, smart chairs and so on.

Core/Shell Piezoelectric Nanofibers with Spatial Self-Orientated β-Phase Nanocrystals for Real-Time Micropressure Monitoring of Cardiovascular Walls

Implantable pressure biosensors show great potential for assessment and diagnostics of pressure-related diseases. Here, we present a structural design strategy to fabricate core/shell polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)/hydroxylamine hydrochloride (HHE) organic piezoelectric nanofibers (OPNs) with well-controlled and self-orientated nanocrystals in the spatial uniaxial orientation (SUO) of β-phase-rich fibers, which significantly enhance piezoelectric performance, fatigue resistance, stability, and biocompatibility. Then PVDF/HHE OPNs soft sensors are developed and used to monitor subtle pressure changes in vivo. Upon implanting into pig, PVDF/HHE OPNs sensors demonstrate their ultrahigh detecting sensitivity and accuracy to capture micropressure changes at the outside of cardiovascular walls, and output piezoelectric signals can real-time and synchronously reflect and distinguish changes of cardiovascular elasticity and occurrence of atrioventricular heart-block and formation of thrombus. Such biological information can provide a diagnostic basis for early assessment and diagnosis of thrombosis and atherosclerosis, especially for postoperative recrudescence of thrombus deep within the human body.

Interface design for high energy density polymer nanocomposites

This review provides a detailed overview on the latest developments in the design and control of the interface in polymer based composite dielectrics for energy storage applications. The methods employed for interface design in composite systems are described for a variety of filler types and morphologies, along with novel approaches employed to build hierarchical interfaces for multi-scale control of properties. Efforts to achieve a close control of interfacial properties and geometry are then described, which includes the creation of either flexible or rigid polymer interfaces, the use of liquid crystals and developing ceramic and carbon-based interfaces with tailored electrical properties. The impact of the variety of interface structures on composite polarization and energy storage capability are described, along with an overview of existing models to understand the polarization mechanisms and quantitatively assess the potential benefits of different structures for energy storage. The applications and properties of such interface-controlled materials are then explored, along with an overview of existing challenges and practical limitations. Finally, a summary and future perspectives are provided to highlight future directions of research in this growing and important area.

Advances in the study of piezoelectric polymers

The literature review based on the works published over the last decade concerns the progress in research on innovative piezoelectric materials with current or potential practical applications. At the beginning, the nature of piezoelectric phenomenon is clarified. The main emphasis is put on presentation of polymers, biopolymers and polymer composites as well as hybrid materials with piezoelectric properties. Moreover, carbon nanomaterials are also included. These materials have recently become an intensively developing field, as evidenced by numerous scientific publications. Furthermore, the recently reported main methods of characterizations and selected examples of modern applications of piezoelectric materials in various fields (electronics, industry, medicine) have been discussed.

The bibliography includes 217 references.

Enhanced energy density and thermal conductivity in poly(fluorovinylidene-co-hexafluoropropylene) nanocomposites incorporated with boron nitride nanosheets exfoliated under assistance of hyperbranched polyethylene

Polymer dielectric film with a large dielectric constant, high energy density and enhanced thermal conductivity are of significance for the development of impulse capacitors. However, the fabrication of polymer dielectrics combining high energy density and thermal conductivity is still a challenge at the moment. Here we demonstrate the facile exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) in common organic solvents under sonication with the assistance of hyperbranched polyethylene (HBPE). The noncovalent CH-π interactions between the nanosheets and HBPE ensure the dispersion of BNNSs in organic solvents with high concentrations, because of the highly branched chain structure of HBPE. Subsequently, the resultant BNNSs with a few defects are distributed uniformly in the poly(fluorovinylidene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) nanocomposite films prepared via simple solution casting. The BNNS/P(VDF-HFP) nanocomposite exhibits outstanding dielectric properties, high energy density and high thermal conductivity. The dielectric constant of the 0.5 wt% nanocomposite film is 35.5 at 100 Hz with an energy density of 5.6 J cm^-3 at 325 MV m^-1 and a high charge-discharge efficiency of 79% due to the depression of the charge injection and chemical species ionization in a high field. Moreover, a thermal conductivity of 1.0 wt% nanocomposite film reaches 0.91 W·m^-1 · K^-1, which is 3.13 times higher than that of the fluoropolymer matrix. With dipole accumulation and orientation in the interfacial zone, lightweight, flexible BNNS/P(VDF-HFP) nanocomposite films with high charge-discharge performance and thermal conductivity, exhibit promising applications in relatively high-temperature electronics and energy storage devices.

Nitrogen-containing amino compounds functionalized graphene oxide: Synthesis, characterization and application for the removal of pollutants from wastewater: A review

Nowadays, using graphene oxide (GO) as an adsorbent for removing pollutants from wastewater has attracted increasing attention due to its unique physic-chemical properties. Nitrogen-containing amino (NA) compounds have excellently complexing properties due to their abundant amino functional groups. In order to obtain an innovative adsorbent, functionalized GO (NAGO) has been developed by combining the properties of GO with the advantages of NA compounds. The obtained NAGO composites usually exhibit great improvement in adsorption properties and can be used as a promising adsorbent for decontamination of wastewater. This paper reviewed recent progress of synthetic technologies about fabricating various NAGOs, and their morphologies, structures and functional characteristics. Meanwhile, important applications of NAGOs for different kind of pollutants and theory of the adsorption phenomena are discussed based on the isothermal and kinetic adsorption models. Furthermore, the affecting factors, underlying mechanisms and comparison with other adsorbents for the removal of pollutants are reviewed. Conclusively, the perspectives and challenges involved in the application of NAGOs for decontamination of wastewater have also been proposed to promote sustainable development of this new exciting field.

Bilayer Polymer Metacomposites Containing Negative Permittivity Layer for New High-k Materials

Polymer matrix high-k composites are of considerable interest in various electronic devices, such as capacitors, antennas, actuators, etc. However, how to enhance the permittivity without elevating the loss remains a challenge for us. Here we present a novel design of bilayer high-k metacomposites consisting of two stacked single layers with positive permittivity and negative permittivity. Interestingly, the bilayer system shows an obvious permittivity boost effect with a permittivity improved by a 40-fold increase compared with the polymer matrix, while maintaining a loss tangent as low as 0.06. Further calculation results indicate that the permittivity of the bilayer composites could be enhanced by 4000-fold or even a greater increase as compared with the polymer matrix via balancing the dielectric properties of single layers. Insights into how the thickness ratios and dielectric properties of single layers interfere with the dielectric performances of bilayer composites were discussed. This study provides a new route for the design of high-k materials, and it will have great significance on the development of dielectric materials. Hopefully, multilayer high-k metacomposites with fascinating dielectric performances could be achieved via balancing the dielectric properties of single layers.

Ni/Al2O3/epoxy high-k composites with ultralow nickel content towards high-performance dielectric applications

Ni/Al₂O₃/epoxy composites with ultralow nickel content, high permittivity and low loss were prepared via a facile wet impregnation process.

Graphene oxide: strategies for synthesis, reduction and frontier applications

In this review article, we describe a general introduction to GO, its synthesis, reduction and some selected frontier applications. Its low cost and potential for mass production make GO a promising building block for functional hybrid materials.