Improvement of the piezoelectric, thermal, structural properties of PMMA/PVdF-HFP blend composite films using PZT

Abstract

Energy harvesting is the most efficient way to meet energy demand while also supplying renewable energy sources from the environment. This technology consists of the recovery of electrical energy from lost energy sources, which are available everywhere, including heat, fluids, vibrations, etc. In particular, energy harvesting via piezoelectric materials, which are capable of converting the energy of vibrations and mechanical deformations into electrical energy, has been the subject of research in the last decade. This energy is used in a variety of applications, including energy collectors, sensors, and actuators, among others. In this paper, a series of thin polymers films based on Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP), and Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoparticles were prepared using solvent casting technique in Tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent with different percentages of PVdF-HFP and PZT, to improve piezoelectric properties of PMMA. Improvement in piezoelectric properties has confirmed by Polarized Optical Microscope (POM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR),X-ray diffraction (XRD) ,Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Tensile testing. The nanocomposite films that were prepared can be used for energy storage and harvesting.