Efforts to enhance the electromechanical properties of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers have been directed at optimizing the molecular chemistry, stretching and poling parameters. This study investigates an alternative approach to enhancing the properties via adding nanoinclusions in PVDF. We investigate the enhanced electrostrictive response in PVDF by adding Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs). We also show the change in the non-polar morphology of “as-is” PVDF to the polar γ phase by adding SWNTs and eventually to the piezoelectric β phase by stretching the nanocomposites.
High-performance cellulose nanofibers, single-walled carbon nanotubes and ionic liquid actuators with a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)/ionic liquid gel electrolyte layer