Multifaceted enhancement of piezoelectricity and optical fluorescence in electrospun PVDF-ceria nanocomposite

This study investigates the enhancement of piezoelectric and optical fluorescence properties in electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposite membranes doped with cerium oxide (Ce³⁺) at varying weight percentages. An optical characterisation using absorbance analysis found a blue shift in the bandgap of the ceria NPs, which also enhanced UV absorption in the PVDF polymer. At some additive doses, luminosity analysis demonstrated an incremental fluorescence impact. However, above a certain point, additional increases seemed to have a quenching effect, which decreased fluorescence. FTIR based analysis revealed the enhanced β sheets content to 61.75% in the sample of PVDF with a ceria 5 wt%. The fabricated nanofiber membrane displayed an average fiber diameter of around 108 nm. XRD analysis confirms that the incorporation of Ce³⁺ significantly promotes the formation of the β-phase in PVDF, thereby improving its piezoelectric response. Additionally, water contact angle measurements indicate increased hydrophobicity in the nanocomposite membranes, expanding their applicability in sensing and energy harvesting applications. ICP-OES and XRF analysis confirm that Ce was successfully incorporated with the PVDF chain. The dual role of ceria as both a nucleating agent for β-phase formation and an optical fluorescence enhancer highlights its potential for the development of multifunctional nanocomposites. This work presents a novel approach to engineering PVDF-based materials with enhanced piezoelectricity and optical fluorescence for advanced technological applications. This ultrasensitive PVDF with a ceria 5 wt% nanogenerator demonstrated pronounced piezoactivity, generating a maximum of 9 V with 3 N load at 1.5 Hz frequency which is almost three times of the output generated by pure PVDF. The formed oxygen vacancies according to tri-valent cerium ions, which have been showed through optical characteristics, supports the nucleation of PVDF chains around ceria NPs. The resultant PVDF/ceria nanomembrane demonstrated a remarkable maximum power density of 89 mW/m², demonstrating its load-bearing capability. With its dual functionality as an optical sensor and an energy harvesting unit, this adaptable nanocomposite shows potential for use in multifunctional devices.