Electrospinning and Piezoelectric Nanofibers

Abstract: Electrospinning is a simple but efficient method to prepare polymeric nanofibers, and electrospun nanofibers have shown broad applications in diverse fields, ranging from biomedical, healthcare, and chemical engineering to electronics, environmental protection, energy, and functional textiles [1]. In the recent decade, significant progress has been made in the mass production of nanofibers using electrospinning. Various electrospinning designs are developed, and their commercialization promotes the practical applications of both electrospinning technology and electrospun nanofibers. Moreover, some unique properties have been observed on electrospun nanofibers, especially in the conversion of mechanical forces, vibrations, and sounds into electrical energy. Our team started working on electrospinning since 2004. We explored several aspects of this technology and developed unique needleless setups for making nanofiber nonwoven membranes and continuous nanofiber yarns [2]. Some of the setups are already used in commercial areas. We also uncovered that electrospun nonwoven membranes from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) have a strong piezoelectric property, and no poling is required for the preparation of the piezoelectric membranes [3]. Piezoelectric nanofiber membrane could be used to convert mechanical energy, sound, and noise into electrical power [4]. The electrospun PVDF membranes have over four times higher electric outputs than their piezoelectric film counterparts. Electrospinning can realize the piezoelectric potential of polymer materials. For example, under the same conditions, the piezoelectricity of electrospun polyacrylonitrile is greater than that of electrospun PVDF [5]. This lecture will introduce the research activities of our team in the development of needleless electrospinning and piezoelectric nanofibers. Keywords: Electrospinning, nanofibers, piezoelectric, acoustoelectric. Full Article; https://proceedings.iaamonline.org/ar... Join us: https://www.iaamonline.org/