University of Rhode Island

Mara Dubnicka

William B Euler

Benjamin B Cromwell

Angela Thach

Lasanthi Sumathirathne

A piezoelectric polymer used as a piezocatalyst, and methods of manufacture and use therefor. A preferred piezoelectric polymer is poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) due to its piezoelectric response and good flexibility. The polymer can be doped with a metal, metal salt, metal carbonyl, metal oxide such as ZnO, CoO, or TiO, or ion such as Cr, Co, or Zn. The dopant can be chosen so that when the polymer is PVDF the dopant increases the amount of β-phase PVDF and/or γ-phase PVDF relative to α-phase PVDF, thereby increasing the piezocatalytic response of the polymer. The compound to be decomposed can be adsorbed on the surface of the piezoelectric polymer. Applications include wastewater treatment, COcapture and reduction, hydroformylation, water splitting, and ammonia synthesis.

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Plantsville, CT, United States of America

Mara Dubnicka