Khalifa, M.Mahendran, A.Anandhan, S.2026-02-052016RSC Advances, 2016, 6, 115, pp. 114052-114060https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA20599Bhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/26102Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers have tremendous potential in nano-sensing and energy scavenging applications. In this study, uniaxially aligned nanofibers were developed from halloysite nanotubes (HNT)/PVDF nanocomposite using electrospinning technique. Incorporation of HNT into PVDF not only reduced the diameter of the electrospun nanofibers, but, also improved their morphology. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry techniques were used to characterize the crystallinity, polymorphism and polymer-filler interaction in the nanocomposite nanofibers. A force sensor was indigenously designed to study the piezoelectric responses of the nanocomposite nanofibers. At 10 wt% of HNT loading, the sensor produced the highest voltage output, which can be ascribed to its highest ?-phase content. Incorporation of HNT and use of electrospinning synergistically enhanced the ?-phase content and hence the piezoelectric behavior of PVDF. Hence, these nanofibers could be promising and prominent materials in sensor and actuator applications. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.Differential scanning calorimetryElectrospinningEnergy harvestingFilled polymersFluorine compoundsFourier transform infrared spectroscopyKaoliniteNanofibersNanotubesPiezoelectricitySpinning (fibers)X ray diffractionYarnElectrospinning techniquesElectrospun nanofibersNanocomposite nanofibersPiezoelectric behaviorPoly (vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF)Poly(vinylidene fluoride)Polymer-filler- InteractionWide angle Xray diffractionNanocomposites