Self-powered piezoelectric sensor based on BaTiO3/MWCNTs/PVDF electrospun nanofibers for wireless alarm system

Abstract The piezoelectric constant of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is inferior to that of piezoelectric ceramics, which will impede the efficient application in smart systems. In this work, we modulated the content of BaTiO 3 /multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the BaTiO 3 /MWCNTs/PVDF electrospun nanofibers to facilitate the β phase formation in the PVDF to enhance the piezoelectric properties of BaTiO 3 /MWCNTs/PVDF films. The BaTiO 3 combined with MWCNTs through chemical bands can enhance the electrostatic interaction at the vicinity of BaTiO 3 -PVDF interface to induce augmentation of the local conformational disorder and result in the enhanced nucleation and stabilization of β phase in the BaTiO 3 /MWCNTs/PVDF films. When the ratio between BaTiO 3 and MWCNTs is about 3:1, the PVDF-BM-3 can deliver the output voltage of 39.5 V under 250 kPa with a frequency of 10 Hz. The PVDF-BM-3 electrospun nanofibers as triggers used in the wireless alarm system can achieve comparable sensitivity under different external stresses. This work paves a new promising pathway for self-powered piezoelectric sensors in the Internet of Things.