3D printing of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene): a poling-free technique to manufacture flexible and transparent piezoelectric generators. (7th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shepelin, Nick A.; Lussini, Vanessa C.; Fox, Phillip J.; Dicinoski, Greg W.; Glushenkov, Alexey M.; Shapter, Joseph G.; Ellis, Amanda V.
• Is Part Of: MRS communications. Volume 9:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 164
• Publication Date: 2019-02-07
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/mrc.2019.19
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2159-6859

Abstract

Abstract: Abstract : Flexible piezoelectric generators (PEGs) present a unique opportunity for renewable and sustainable energy harvesting. Here, we present a low-temperature and low-energy deposition method using solvent evaporation-assisted three-dimensional printing to deposit electroactive poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-trifluoroethylene (TrFE) up to 19 structured layers. Visible-wavelength transmittance was above 92%, while ATR-FTIR spectroscopy showed little change in the electroactive phase fraction between layer depositions. Electroactivity from the fabricated PVDF-TrFE PEGs showed that a single structured layer gave the greatest output at 289.3 mV peak-to-peak voltage. This was proposed to be due to shear-induced polarization affording the alignment of the fluoropolymer dipoles without an electric field or high temperature.