Poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF is a semi crystalline non-centrosymmetric polymer which exhibits piezo-, pyro- and ferroelectric properties. It is a linear polymer that shows permanent electric dipoles perpendicular to the direction of the molecular chain. These dipoles result from the difference in electronegativity between the atoms of hydrogen and fluorine with respect to carbon. Depending on the processing conditions, PVDF exhibits several different crystalline phases (α,β,γ,δ). The β phase of PVDF is the phase that exhibits the best ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is used in nanoporous electrodes. It is used to synthesize composites comprising of ultrafine fibers of PVDF embedded with carbon nanotubes. It can be used in sensors, actuators, for energy storage, sphygmomanometers, pressure sensors and nanogenerators, lithium ion batteries. Additionally, it may find application as matrix for PVDF-nanoclay nanocomposites and PVDF acrylic rubber/clay nanocomposite hybrid.