Polyvinylidene Fluoride as an advanced polymer for multifunctional applications - a review

With the advancement of technological development, polymers are grabbing huge consideration in developing Energy Harvesting and Electromechanical devices. Polyvinylidene Fluoride, commonly referred to as PVDF, a semicrystalline polymer from the fluoropolymer family, has received tremendous interest among the research community. This polymer is astonishing to researchers with its excellent piezoelectric and dielectric properties. Apart from this, properties like outstanding thermal stability, flexible processing, anticorrosive, and mechanical strength make them more appropriate for applications such as wearable sensors, nanogenerators, spin valve ultrafiltration membranes, and separators in lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, while exploring deep through its electrical properties, PVDF is a ferroelectric non-polar insulating matrix and is majorly adopted in insulating materials. But few researchers have resulted that incorporating certain fillers into PVDF can improve their electroactive crystalline phase without an external poling process. This enhancement enhances their piezoelectric properties and makes them an advanced polymer for multifunctional applications such as shielding material for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Acoustic sensors, energy storage and smart scaffolds. Hence this review discusses PVDF as an advanced polymer for Multifunctional applications