Enhanced output power polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) electrospun nanogenerator with high fiber alignment

High-aligned PVDF nanofiber mats-based nanogenerators are prepared via electrospinning using a high-speed rolling collector without any post-poling treatment. The effect of alignment on ß phase composition and output voltage of the different alignment samples are investigated. The anisotropic of output voltage based on the fiber alignment and bending direction (the fiber aligned direction, marked as 0°) is first reported. Under the bending direction of 0°, the maximum generated piezo-voltage exhibited by aligned PVDF nanofiber mats is as high as 9 V, increases of 350% compared to random mats with no significant change on crystallinity and ß phase content. It is verified that the alignment degree of nanofibers plays an important role in the effect of energy transformation. Interestingly, a remarkable enhancement in mechanical property has also been achieved and one can expect the nanogenerator with high alignment has the higher output in wide applications.