Hot pressing process ameliorates internal defects of PBZ/PVDF composite film for a high electrocaloric effect near room temperature

The poor interface compatibility between inorganic fillers and organic polymer matrix in nanocomposite has presented considerable challenges, which limit the applicable electric field ranges and reduce the interface polarization interaction. In this paper, Pb[Formula: see text]Ba[Formula: see text]ZrO3 (PBZ) nanofibers were introduced into the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix to prepare composite film, and the effect of hot pressing on interface compatibility was investigated at volume composite ratios of 3% and 4%. For the untreated film, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of the 3 vol.% composite film are 9.68 [Formula: see text]C/cm2 and 401 MV/m, respectively, and those for the 4 vol.% composite film are 9.15 [Formula: see text]C/cm2 and 408 MV/m, respectively. These differences are mainly due to the impact of internal defects. After hot pressing, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for the 3 vol.% composite film became 10.22 [Formula: see text]C/cm2 and 490 MV/m, respectively. Those for the 4 vol.% composite film are 9.85 [Formula: see text]C/cm2 and 485 MV/m. Experiment and simulation results showed the beneficial effect of hot pressing, which ameliorated poor interfacial compatibility, reduced internal defects, and improved the crystallinity of the composite film. A high electrocaloric effect (ECE) was obtained by using the direct measure method. At −30[Formula: see text]C, the [Formula: see text] values of hot-pressed PBZ/PVDF film at 3[Formula: see text] and 4[Formula: see text] vol.% were 23.81 and 19.73 K, respectively. When temperature increased to 70[Formula: see text]C, the [Formula: see text] values were 9.44 and 7.01 K, respectively, which were 1.58 times of the values of a non-hot-pressed film. These results indicated that hot pressing alleviated the interface problem and resulted in high EC performance under a high-strength electric field.

Application of Pyroelectric Sensors Based on PVDF Films for EPR Spectra Detection by Heat Release

Pyroelectrics are a wide class of materials that change their polarization when the system temperature varies. This effect is utilized for a number of different commercial and industrial applications ranging from simple thermal sensors and laser interferometers to water vapor harvesting. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying the structure and dynamics of materials with unpaired electrons. Since heating accompanies a resonant change of the orientation of electron spins in an external magnetic field, pyroelectrics can be utilized as versatile detectors for so-called indirect detection of the EPR signal. In this work, we investigated three different types of PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride) standard pyroelectric films with indium tin oxide, Cu/Ni, and Au coatings to determine their sensitivity for detecting EPR signals. All the films were shown to be able to detect the EPR spectra of about 1 μg of a standard stable free radical by heat release. A comparative study based on the calculation of the noise-equivalent power and specific detectivity from experimental spectra showed that the Au coated PVDF film is the most promising active element for measuring the EPR signal. Using the best achieved sensitivity, estimation is given whether this is sufficient for using a PVDF-based pyrodetector for indirectly detecting EPR spectra by recombination heat release or not.

Effects of polyvinylidene fluoride sealing on micro-arc oxidation coating of 7075 aluminum alloy

Purpose The purpose of this is to study the effects of organic sealing on the structure and performance of the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) film of 7075 aluminum alloy. Design/methodology/approach The 7075 aluminum alloy was treated by micro-arc oxidation technology, then the MAO films were sealed by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) solutions with different concentrations to forms a MAO/PVDF composite coating on the surface of the 7075 aluminum alloy matrix. Findings The results show that the MAO/PVDF film thickness increased to 24.8 um. When the PVDF concentration was 8 g/L, and the sealed film reached best corrosion resistance and wear resistance. Originality/value The effects of different concentrations of PVDF on microarc oxidation properties of 7075 aluminum alloy were studied.

Broadband model-based optoacoustic microscopy enables deep-tissue imaging beyond the acoustic diffraction limit

Optoacoustic microscopy (OAM) retrieves anatomical and functional contrast in vivo at depths not resolvable with optical microscopy. Recent progress on reconstruction algorithms have further advanced its imaging performance to provide high lateral resolution ultimately limited by acoustic diffraction. In this work, we suggest a new broadband model-based OAM (MB-OAM) framework efficiently exploiting scanning symmetries for an enhanced performance. By capitalizing on the large detection bandwidth of a spherical polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) film while accurately accounting for its spatial impulse response, the new approach significantly outperforms standard OAM implementations in terms of contrast and resolution, as validated by functional in vivo experiments in mice and human volunteers. Furthermore, L1-norm regularization enabled resolving structures separated by less than the theoretical diffraction-limited resolution. This unique label-free angiographic performance demonstrates the general applicability of MB-OAM as a super-resolution deep-tissue imaging method capable of breaking through the limits imposed by acoustic diffraction.

Surface Acoustic Wave DMMP Gas Sensor with a Porous Graphene/PVDF Molecularly Imprinted Sensing Membrane

In this paper, surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors containing porous graphene/PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) molecularly imprinted sensitive membrane for DMMP gas detection were investigated. A 433 MHz ST-cut quartz SAW resonator was used to convert gas concentration changes into frequency shifts by the sensors. The porous graphene/PVDF film was fabricated on the sensor’s surface by using the tape-casting method. DMMP molecules were adsorbed on the porous structure sensing film prepared by the 2-step method to achieve the specific recognition effect. The sensitivity of the sensor could reach −1.407 kHz·ppm−1. The response time and recovery time of the SAW sensor with porous graphene/PVDF sensing membrane were about 4.5 s and 5.8 s at the concentration of 10 ppm, respectively. The sensor has good anti-interference ability to most gases in the air.

Preparation and Application of ZIF-8 Thin Layers

Herein we compare various preparation methods for thin ZIF-8 layers on a Cu substrate for application as a host material for omniphobic lubricant-infused surfaces. Such omniphobic surfaces can be used in thermal engineering applications, for example to achieve dropwise condensation or anti-fouling and anti-icing surface properties. For these applications, a thin, conformal, homogeneous, mechanically and chemically stable coating is essential. In this study, thin ZIF-8 layers were deposited on a Cu substrate by different routes, such as (i) electrochemical anodic deposition on a Zn-covered Cu substrate, (ii) doctor blade technique for preparation of a composite layer containing PVDF binder and ZIF-8, as well as (iii) doctor blade technique for preparation of a two-layer composite on the Cu substrate containing a PVDF-film and a ZIF-8 layer. The morphology and topography of the coatings were compared by using profilometry, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. After infusion with a perfluorinated oil, the wettability of the surfaces was assessed by contact angle measurements, and advantages of each preparation method were discussed.

Studies on the transformation process of PVDF film from α to β phase by uniaxial stretch

Stretching process is an effective method to prepare high β- phase PVDF. PVDF film was prepared by extrusion casting in this paper, then stretched by means of uniaxial-stretching using a DMA(Dynamic mechanical analyzer), the effects of stretching conditions on the transformation from α to β phase of PVDF were studied, also with the changes regularity of mechanical properties during stretching. The phase composition was characterized by XRD, FTIR, DSC, the results show that, the optimum drawing temperature is 80°C, the optimum stretch ratio is related to the length-width ratio of the film, the increase of stretching rate is beneficial to the formation of β-phase, the β-phase can reach 80% under the optimum drawing conditions.