From scientific and technological points of view, poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, is one of the most exciting polymers due to its overall physicochemical characteristics. This polymer can crystalize into five crystalline phases and can be processed in the form of films, fibers, membranes, and specific microstructures, being the physical properties controllable over a wide range through appropriate chemical modifications. Moreover, PVDF-based materials are characterized by excellent chemical, mechanical, thermal, and radiation resistance, and for their outstanding electroactive properties, including high dielectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric response, being the best among polymer systems and thus noteworthy for an increasing number of technologies. This review summarizes and critically discusses the latest advances in PVDF and its copolymers, composites, and blends, including their main characteristics and processability, together with their tailorability and implementation in areas including sensors, actuators, energy harvesting and storage devices, environmental membranes, microfluidic, tissue engineering, and antimicrobial applications. The main conclusions, challenges and future trends concerning materials and application areas are also presented.

The low concentration behaviour and the increase of the dielectric constant in carbon nanotubes/polymer nanocomposites near the percolation threshold are still not well understood. In this work, a numerical model has been developed which focuses on the effect of the inclusion of conductive fillers in a dielectric polymer matrix on the dielectric constant and the dielectric strength. Experiments have been carried out in carbon nanotubes/poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposites in order to compare to the simulation results. This work shows how the critical concentration is related to the formation of capacitor networks and that these networks give rise to high variations in the electrical properties of the composites. Based on numerical studies, the dependence of the percolation transition on the preparation of the nanocomposite is discussed. Finally, based on numerical and experimental results, both ours and from other authors, the causes of anomalous percolation behaviour of the dielectric constant are identified.