Micropower energy harvesting using poly(vinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene)

This work explores applications for poly(vinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene) or P(VDF-HFP). The P(VDF-HFP) with a 10 wt. % HFP can be prepared to exhibit the piezoelectricity and energy conversion ability. This was achieved by determining the nanostructural parameters by the Small Angle X-Ray Scattering. The unpoled sample gained linear crystallinity with drawing rate. The optimal conditions for poling process were 60 MV/m at 90 °C. The piezoelectric coefficient d31 of 28.7 pC/N and FoM of 8.8 × 10−12 m2/N were obtained from the poled sample drawn at 45 mm/min. The piezoelectric P(VDF-HFP) was proven to deliver a microwatt energy essential for powering small-scale electronics.