Advances in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for self-powered wearable physiological monitoring and energy harvesting applications

Abstract

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has emerged as one of the most extensively investigated piezoelectric polymers, owing to its remarkable piezoelectric performance, outstanding chemical stability, mechanical flexibility, low density, and facile processability. These intrinsic characteristics render PVDF a highly attractive material for developing wearable physiological monitoring devices. Despite this promise, ensuring a reliable and continuous power supply remains a significant challenge for the long-term operation of wearable systems. Recent advancements in PVDF processing and fabrication techniques have paved the way for its seamless integration into energy harvesting devices, enhancing the prospects of self-powered wearable sensors. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the latest progress in PVDF-based technologies, focusing on their implementation in wearable electronics and energy harvesting systems, such as triboelectric nanogenerators and hybrid devices. Key discussion areas include the historical development of PVDF, its structure–property relationships, biocompatibility, scalability, and performance under dynamic conditions. The review also explores fundamental operational principles, innovative fabrication methods, and PVDF's pivotal role in health monitoring and sustainable energy harvesting. Contributions from leading research groups worldwide are highlighted, emphasizing the importance of PVDF’s piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and triboelectric properties in advancing bioengineering technologies, especially for physiological monitoring applications.