PVDF electrospun membranes were prepared by employing different mixtures of solvents and diverse electrospinning parameters. A comprehensive investigation was carried out, including morphology, nanofiber diameter, crystallinity, β-phase fraction, and piezoelectric response under external mechanical strain. It was demonstrated that by using low-toxicity DMSO as the solvent, PVDF membranes with good morphology (bead-free, smooth surface, and uniform nanofiber) can be obtained. All the fabricated membranes showed crystallinity and β-phase fraction above 48% and 80%, respectively; therefore, electrospinning is a good method for preparing PVDF membranes with the piezoelectric properties. Moreover, we considered a potential effect of the solvent properties and the electrospinning parameters on the final piezoelectric properties. When PVDF membranes with different β-phase fractions and crystallinity values are applied to make the piezoelectric transducers, various piezoelectric voltage outputs can be obtained. This paper provides an effective and efficient strategy for regulating the piezoelectric properties of PVDF electrospun membranes by controlling both solvent dipole moment and process parameters. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the influence of a solvent’s dipole moment on the piezoelectric properties of electrospun materials has been reported.

A hierarchical composite based on the modified reduced graphene oxide with platinum-nickel decorated polyaniline nano-spheres (rGO/PANI@PtNi) was facilely prepared via microwave-assisted self-reduction for an application in nonenzymatic hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) detection. Compared to the pristine rGO, the composite exhibited a much tougher surface due to the stacking of conductive PANI nano-spheres on rGO sheets, leading to good dispersion of PtNi nanoparticles and a large active area. Furthermore, the multi-valance Ni^2+/3+ in the PtNi particles effectively promoted the catalytic property of Pt sites and facilitated a superior electrochemical performance of PtNi alloy than that of neat Pt. Owing to the synergistic effect of the improved electrical conductivity and the promoted electrocatalytical property, the modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with rGO/PANI@PtNi nanocomposite displayed an outstanding electrochemical sensitivity towards H₂O₂ with a fast response time (<2 s), a wide linear range (0.1–126.4 mM), a low detection limit (0.5 µM), as well as a long-life stability for one week without obvious degradation. This novel strategy opens a novel and promising approach to design high performance sensors for H₂O₂ detection.

Using first-principles pseudo-potential plane wave method, the formation enthalpy Δ, binding energy Δ, elastic constants, and electronic structure were calculated and analyzed carefully for NiTiX (X = Cu, Fe) shape memory alloy. The results show that the Cu or Fe element prefers to occupy the Ni site in the NiTi matrix phase respectively. Compared with the NiTi matrix phase, the Δ, Δ, and ′ of NiTi (Cu) are similar to each other. However, the structural stability of the NiTi phase is improved obviously by the Fe alloying process. Simultaneously, the shear modulus and ′ of NiTi (Fe) are larger than those of the NiTi matrix phase. Furthermore, Milliken population results indicate that is smaller than after the Cu alloying process, but is larger than . The electron density difference shows that some covalent bonding exists between Fe and Ti elements. Based on the upward analysis, the difference in the phase stability and elastic constants of NiTiX (X = Cu, Fe) is the substantial mechanism for the different of NiTiX (X = Cu, Fe) although Cu or Fe substitutes for the same atom Ni elements in the NiTi matrix phase.