Establishing a methodology to enhance the piezoelectric response of PVDF and PVDF-based composites for energy harvesting in smart textile

Abstract

This thesis presents a comprehensive study aimed at establishing a methodology to enhance the piezoelectric response of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its composites for potential applications in energy harvesting and potential sensing applications. The research focuses on the incorporation of barium titanate (BaTiO3) and CaZrO3-based dielectric (SCZT) particles into PVDF to compare composite materials with improved piezoelectric properties from pure PVDF. Key parameters including uniaxial stretching and electrode poling, are intentionally adjusted to optimize the piezoelectric performance of the films. Characterization techniques, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and change in current measurements. The findings aim to contribute valuable insights into the development of efficient energy harvesting solutions from body movements, particularly for applications in the military and everyday textile technologies.