Search

Abstract This paper introduces a new approach of testing piezoelectric nanofibers as antibacterial mat. In this work, both Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and PVDF embedded with thermoplastic polyurethane nanofibers are synthesized as nanofibers mat via electrospinning technique. Then, such mat is analyzed as piezoelectric material to generate electric voltage under different mechanical excitations. Furthermore, morphological and chemical characteristics have been operated to prove the existence of beta sheets piezoelectricity of the synthesized nanofibers mats. Then, the synthesized nanofibers surfaces have been cyclically stretched and exposed to bacteria specimen. It has been noticed that the generated voltage and the corresponding localized electric field positively affect the growth of bacteria and reduces the formation of K. penomenue samples bacteria colonies. In addition, the effect of both stretching frequency and pulses numbers have been studied on the bacteria count, growth kinetics, and protein leakage. Our contribution here is to introduce an innovative way of the direct impact of the generated electric field from piezoelectric nanofibers on the reduction of bacteria growth, without depending on traditional anti-bacterial nanoparticles. This work can open a new trend of the usability of piezoelectric nanofibers through masks, filters, and wound curing mats within anti-bacterial biological applications.

Abstract Interest in piezoelectric nanocomposites has been vastly growing in the energy harvesting field. They are applied in wearable electronics, mechanical actuators, and electromechanical membranes. In this research work, nanocomposite membranes of different blend ratios from PVDF and TPU have been synthesized. The PVDF is responsible for piezoelectric performance where it is one of the promising polymeric organic materials containing β-sheets, to convert applied mechanical stress into electric voltage. In addition, the TPU is widely used in the plastic industry due to its superior elasticity. Our work investigates the piezoresponse analysis for different blending ratios of PVDF/TPU. It has been found that TPU blending ratios of 15–17.5% give higher output voltage at different stresses conditions along with higher piezosensitivity. Then, TPU addition with its superior mechanical elasticity can partially compensate PVDF to enhance the piezoelectric response of the PVDF/TPU nanocomposite mats. This work can help reducing the amount of added PVDF in piezoelectric membranes with enhanced piezo sensitivity and mechanical elasticity.