PU/PVDF blend nanofiber film with enhanced mechanical and piezoelectric performance for development of stable nanogenerators

Piezoelectric films have good elasticity and microstructure stability, which are the basis of the piezoelectric nanogenerator to adapt to various application scenarios and run stably for a long time. In this paper, Polyurethane (PU) is introduced into PVDF nanofibers to obtain blend nanofiber film with elasticity and microstructure stability. The tensile and compression moduli of the nanofiber films are effectively controlled by changing the mass ratio of PU to PVDF. By the impact of a 5.6 g ball falling freely from a height of 16 cm, the piezoelectric output of nanofiber film with an optimized mass ratio of 35/65 is 3.58 V. The maximum peak current and power surface densities are 0.286 μA and 0.18 μW cm−2, respectively. The piezoelectric response of the nanofiber film remained stable before and after 9 cycles of 10 % compressive strain. A simulated vehicle tire pressure fluctuation energy collection device is fabricated by using the blend nanofiber film. The peak-to-peak piezoelectric response is about 0.32 V. This unique property opens up another way to harvest mechanical energy from gas pressure fluctuation. The development of PU/PVDF blend nanofiber film show inestimable application potential as a mechanical energy harvesting device for gas or liquid pressure fluctuation. [Display omitted] •The piezoelectric properties of PU/PVDF composite nanofiber film were investigated.•PU enhances the strain toughness of PU/PVDF composite nanofiber film.•The PU/PVDF composite nanofiber nanogenerator has good stability.•A mechanical energy harvesting device for gas pressure fluctuation.