Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported Anisotropic Crystallisation of Solvent-Casted p(VDF-TrFE) Films for Improved Elastic Deformation and Piezoelectric Response
- 1Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- 2Department of Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- 3Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
This study investigates the percolation limit of solvent-casted p(VDF-TrFE) film through its processing (thermal treatment) and the addition of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene, by evaluating their distribution using SEM-EDX and determining the electroactive crystalline phases using FTIR and XRD spectroscopies, while evaluating the film’s dielectric permittivity and piezoelectric response after a mechanical deformation cycle (elongation). The robust interactions of the -CH2/-CF2 groups of copolymer (55/45 mol%) with the terminal groups (-OH/F) of MXene influence their distributions and alignment along the MXene nanosheets, and, consequently, the higher and anisotropically distributed β-phase crystallinity near its percolation limit (0.0015 w/w% of loading). This exhibited a piezoelectric behaviour of d33 ~19 pC/N after e-polishing and ~24 pC/N after 50% of elongation performed at an ambient temperature. Such an interconnected and uniform film achieves a dielectric permittivity of ~22, exhibits intrinsic flexibility (fracture resistance), and facilitates effective load transfer during elastic deformation while maintaining the piezoelectric response, which could not be achieved for a pure p(VDF-TrFE) film.
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BibTeX
@article{kokol2026ti3c2tx,
title = {{Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported Anisotropic Crystallisation of Solvent-Casted p(VDF-TrFE) Films for Improved Elastic Deformation and Piezoelectric Response}},
author = {Vanja Kokol and Branko Nečemer and Eugenio Gibertini and Vid Bobnar},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202488},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2488},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported Anisotropic Crystallisation of Solvent-Casted p(VDF-TrFE) Films for Improved Elastic Deformation and Piezoelectric Response
AU - Vanja Kokol
AU - Branko Nečemer
AU - Eugenio Gibertini
AU - Vid Bobnar
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202488
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2488
AB - This study investigates the percolation limit of solvent-casted p(VDF-TrFE) film through its processing (thermal treatment) and the addition of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene, by evaluating their distribution using SEM-EDX and determining the electroactive crystalline phases using FTIR and XRD spectroscopies, while evaluating the film’s dielectric permittivity and piezoelectric response after a mechanical deformation cycle (elongation). The robust interactions of the -CH2/-CF2 groups of copolymer (55/45 mol%) with the terminal groups (-OH/F) of MXene influence their distributions and alignment along the MXene nanosheets, and, consequently, the higher and anisotropically distributed β-phase crystallinity near its percolation limit (0.0015 w/w% of loading). This exhibited a piezoelectric behaviour of d33 ~19 pC/N after e-polishing and ~24 pC/N after 50% of elongation performed at an ambient temperature. Such an interconnected and uniform film achieves a dielectric permittivity of ~22, exhibits intrinsic flexibility (fracture resistance), and facilitates effective load transfer during elastic deformation while maintaining the piezoelectric response, which could not be achieved for a pure p(VDF-TrFE) film.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -