A comprehensive review on fundamental properties and applications of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is known as a favorite polymer from the family of fluoropolymers due to its excellent piezoelectric properties, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. It has a good processability, and it also possess chemical resistance property to different materials such as different acids, bases, organic solvents, oil, and fat. The present study reveals an overview of the recent growth and development in the application perspective and modification of PVDF membranes, majorly focus on sensors and actuators, spin-valve devices, magnetoelectric materials, energy harvesting applications, tissue engineering, modeling engineering, and other biomedical engineering and devices. From an electronic point of view, ferroelectric polymers are insulating, polar, and possess a non-conjugated backbone; therefore, they are termed as highly insulating materials. The insulating polymers are most attractive for the study of charge transportation and storage. Such polymers also yield the best electrets for practical application because of their insulating properties and high concentration of deep trapping sites. Thus, the objective of this review is to present the physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of PVDF. This article also provides an intelligent direction in the progress of PVDF in different fields of science and technology. Graphical abstract