SnSe/PVDF-HFP Composite Fibrous Membrane with Excellent Piezoelectric and Photocatalytic Dual Properties

Currently, electrospun nanofiber membranes are widely used in sensor and photocatalysis research fields. In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) flexible nanofiber membranes were successfully prepared by electrospinning technology. The narrow band gap semiconductor tin selenide (SnSe) was innovatively introduced as a functional filler, and a SnSe/PVDF-HFP composite fibrous membrane with excellent piezoelectric and photocatalytic dual properties was developed. By systematically optimizing the load process parameters of SnSe, including loading methods, hydrothermal duration for crystal size control, and ultrasonic time for loading amount regulation, the piezoelectric properties of the material were significantly improved. Experimental results demonstrate that the composite fibrous membrane exhibits outstanding dual functionality: On one hand, the flexible sensor based on its piezoelectric properties achieves an output voltage of 23.1 V and a sensitivity of 440 mV^-1, enabling precise monitoring of human motion. On the other hand, the piezo-photocatalytic synergistic enhancement mechanism is proposed based on kinetic studies. Under the combined action of light irradiation and ultrasonic vibration, the composite fibrous membrane as a catalyst achieves 99.0% degradation rate of methylene blue within 120 min while maintaining excellent stability and recyclability, effectively addressing the recovery challenges of traditional powder catalysts. This work not only provides a novel material design strategy for integrating piezoelectric sensing and photocatalytic dual functions but also opens innovative pathways for developing wearable flexible electronic devices and easily recoverable catalysts.