A 3D-printed, alternatively tilt-polarized PVDF-TrFE polymer with enhanced piezoelectric effect for self-powered sensor application. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yuan, Xiaoting; Gao, Xiangyu; Shen, Xinyi; Yang, Jikun; Li, Zhanmiao; Dong, Shuxiang
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 85(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: 3D-printed -- Alternatively tilt-polarized -- PVDF-TrFE polymer -- Self-powered sensor; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.105985
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: This work reports a 3D-printed PVDF-TrFE piezoelectric film (PF) coated with one pair of dislocated interdigital electrode (ID) to produce multiple, alternatively tilt-polarized regions in the cross-sectional area, which exhibits quite high sensitivity to an external stress stimulation. The theoretical analysis further reveals that the enhanced piezoelectric effect of the film can be attributed to the larger electric dipole moment due to tilt dipole orientation in PVDF-TrFE polymer. The experimental measurements show that the ID tilt-polarized PVDF-TrFE film (ID-TPPF) can produce a stable peak voltage of 73.5 V under dynamic compression stress of 50 kPa at 1 Hz, corresponding to a pressure sensitivity of 1.47 V/kPa, which are 14.7 times and 3.6 times those of a PVDF-TrFE film with conventional thickness-polarization and in-plane polarization, respectively. Correspondingly, the peak power density of ID-TPPF is as high as 478 μW/cm 2, while at a load of 3 MΩ, the load power is still 207 μW/cm 2, which even instantly lights up eight LEDs connected in series without using any charging capacitor. This work confirms that the 3D-printed ID-TPPF shows great potential in self-powered tactile sensors and artificial skin applications in the future. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: A 3D-printed, alternatively tilt-polarized PVDF-TrFE film (ID-TPPF) self-powered sensor with a high pressure and tactile sensitivity is investigated based on the ID-TPPF energy harvester with enhanced piezoelectric effect. The 3D-printed PVDF-TrFE piezoelectric film (PF) coated with one pair of the dislocated interdigital electrode (ID) to produce multiple, alternatively tilt-polarized regions in the cross-sectional area, aiming to obtain high sensitivity to an external stress stimulation. A tilt-polarized PVDF-TrFE polymer produced a larger dipole moment than that of thickness-polarized one, that is, a larger piezoelectric response.