Existing piezoelectric sensing materials usually rely on top and bottom planar electrodes to achieve the assembly of piezoelectric sensors , restricting their application due to the limitation of flexibility and miniaturization as well as time-consuming and costly multi-steps preparation. Here, we report a simple strategy to synchronously construct piezoelectric elements and nanoresistance networks via fabricating single PAN/PANI/PVP piezoelectric-conductive nanofibers (NFs) by electrospinning. By virtue of PAN as piezoelectric elements and PANI/PVP as nanoresistance networks, the flexible PAN/PANI/PVP piezoelectric-conductive NFs as an integrated sensing system can timely collect and output voltage based on Wheatstone bridge principle. The pressure sensing potential of flexible PAN/PANI/PVP integrated nanofibers membrane (INFM) is systematically explored and evaluated. The valid contact and adhesion of piezoelectric elements and nanoresistance networks improve effective polarization and collection of induced charges, enhancing piezoelectric output performance. Moreover, it enables the INFM to perceive tiny force with high-precision sensitivity (667 mV N −1 ) down to approximately 0.05 N while retaining a linear relationship. Thus, our research opens a simple route to design integrated sensing materials with nanoscale , high-sensitivity, lightweight and low-cost, making them attractive candidates in the potential application in micro-/nanoscale sensors and wearable electronics .
Zhenji Zhou,Caiyin You,Yao Chen,Weimin Xia,Na Tian,Yun Li,ChuKai Wang
Polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene [P(VDF-TrFE)] polymer materials possess good piezoelectric properties , leading to their use in many practical applications as sensors and transducers. However, pure P(VDF-TrFE) exhibits relatively brittle properties and low thermal resistance . In this work, porous P(VDF-TrFE)/PBDMS flexible materials were designed by embedding a low Young's modulus polyborosiloxane (PBDMS) into the [P(VDF-TrFE)] structure. These P(VDF-TrFE)/PBDMS porous polymer materials exhibit excellent flexibility and piezoelectric response to external stimuli such as bending, shock, vibration, and breathing. The output voltage of these polymer materials can be maintained at a high value of 8.25 V over 6600 cycles of continuous vibration. In addition, the porous polymer materials generate a transient voltage response when in contact with small droplets of water at different temperatures. This work provides a novel approach for designing lightweight and wearable piezoelectric sensors for potential applications in human motion monitoring, mechanical vibration monitoring, and pyroelectric devices.