Piezoelectric polymer nanocomposite: Fabricating methods for materials and devices

Polymer-based piezoelectric nanocomposites, serving as smart materials for devices, offer a sustainable alternative to conventional energy sources. These materials exhibit notable flexibility, lightweight characteristics, and integration advantages, surpassing non-polymeric counterparts and proving versatile in wearable technology. Furthermore, many polymeric piezoelectric materials boast biocompatibility, making them suitable for various biomedical applications. Among these, PVDF and related polymers stand out for their utility in piezoelectric devices, providing direct use as smart materials in transduction applications. This article summarises piezoelectric materials based on their operational principles, material properties, fabrication techniques, devices, and applications in electromechanical devices, alongside a historical overview of the earliest discoveries in piezoelectricity. Additionally, the role of polymer nanocomposite fibres in piezoelectricity is explored, particularly their preparation via electrospinning, which offers advantages such as a large specific surface area, controllable structure, ease of fabrication and low cost. The article also outlines the pioneering developments in electrospinning technology, including its principles and strategies, in the fabrication of piezoelectric materials.