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Compressibility and crystalline structures of PVDF membranes under elevated gravity acceleration by two-axis spin
Soroosh Mahmoodi1,2,3, Parisa Hamedi1,2, Shengwen Zhong2
1Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224000, Jiangsu, P. R. China. soroosh.mahmoodi@yahoo.com.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|July 13, 2022
Summary
This study shows that increasing artificial gravity during the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes significantly reduces their thickness and enhances solvent release. This process also induces a phase transition in the polymer
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Polymers like polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are crucial for advanced technologies such as lithium-ion batteries and sensors.
- Controlling membrane properties during fabrication is key to optimizing device performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of varying gravity conditions on the compressibility and crystalline structure of PVDF membranes.
- To validate numerical simulations and experimental findings regarding PVDF membrane fabrication under artificial gravity.
Main Methods:
- Numerical modeling using Particle Flow Code (PFC) to simulate membrane compressibility.
- MATLAB simulations based on Stokes' law to model solvent release dynamics.
- Experimental fabrication of PVDF membranes using a two-axis spin coater under varied gravity (1g, 100g, 300g, 500g).
- Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
Main Results:
- Elevated gravity (up to 500g) significantly reduced PVDF membrane thickness by up to 21%.
- Artificial gravity accelerated solvent release, with 99% evaporation observed at higher gravity levels.
- XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed gravity-induced phase transitions in the PVDF crystalline structure, primarily from gamma to beta phase.
Conclusions:
- Artificial gravity is an effective parameter for controlling PVDF membrane thickness and solvent evaporation during fabrication.
- The observed phase transitions under elevated gravity conditions can be leveraged to tailor PVDF properties for specific applications.
- This research provides insights into optimizing polymer membrane manufacturing for energy storage and sensor technologies.
