Porous polymeric structures with piezoelectric properties have attracted considerable attention in the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering due to their ability to convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. However, conventional fabrication methods for porous structures often face limitations in controlling pore architecture, maintaining structural uniformity, and achieving process reproducibility, in addition to requiring complex processing conditions. To address these issues, we propose a facile and reproducible fabrication method for porous poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) piezoelectric sponges using molded sugar cubes as sacrificial pore templates. By adjusting the particle size of the sugar templates, the pore size and distribution of the sponges could be effectively controlled, and a uniform open-pore network was achieved. The fabricated sponges were evaluated with a focus on pore morphology, mechanical behavior, and piezoelectric performance depending on the sugar particle size, and these evaluations confirmed the structural properties and functional efficacy. This study presents a simple and reproducible fabrication strategy along with a quantitative analysis method for porous structures, which is expected to enhance process accessibility and practical applicability in the development of piezoelectric polymer-based biomaterial platforms.
Donghun Lee, Seongmin Jeong, Hak Su Jang, Dongju Ha, Dong Yeol Hyeon, Yu Mi Woo, Changyeon Baek, Min-ku Lee, Gyoung-ja Lee, Jung Hwan Park, Kwi-il Park
J Electr Electron Mater 2024;37(4):427-432. Published online July 1, 2024
The polymer crystallization process, promoting the formation of ferroelectric β-phase, is essential for developing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based high-performance piezoelectric energy harvesters. However, traditional high-temperature annealing is unsuitable for the manufacture of flexible piezoelectric devices due to the thermal damage to plastic components that occurs during the long processing times. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of introducing a flash lamp annealing that can rapidly induce the β-phase in the PVDF layer while avoiding device damage through selective heating. The flash lightirradiated PVDF films achieved a maximum β-phase content of 76.52% under an applied voltage of 300 V and an on-time of 1.5 ms, a higher fraction than that obtained through thermal annealing. The PVDF-based piezoelectric energy harvester with the optimized irradiation condition generates a stable output voltage of 0.23 V and a current of 102 nA under repeated bendings. These results demonstrate that flash lamp annealing can be an effective process for realizing the mass production of PVDF-based flexible electronics.
Hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) detection sensors were fabricated using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and various binder materials for ion batteries. To obtain uniformly printed films, the printing precision according to the substrate cleaning method was monitored, and the printing paste mixing ratio was investigated. Binders were prepared using styrene butadiene rubber + carboxymethyl cellulose (SBR+CMC), polyvinylidene fluoride + n-methyl-2-pyrrolidene (PVDF+NMP), and mixed with MWCNTs. The surface morphology of the printed films was examined using an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope, and their electrical properties are investigated using an I-V sourcemeter. Finally, sensing properties of MWCNT printed films were measured according to changes in the concentration of the chemical under the various applied voltages. In conclusion, the MWCNT printed films made of (SBR+CMC) were found to be feasible for application to the detection of hazardous and noxious chemicals spilled in seawater.
Lead zirconate titanate/poly-vinylidene fluoride (PZT/PVDF) piezoelectric devices were fabricated by incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs), for use as flexible energy harvesting devices. CNTs were added to maximize the formation of the β phase of PVDF to enhance the piezoelectricity of the devices. The phase transition of PVDF induced by the addition of CNTs was confirmed by analyzing the X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy images, and atomic force microscopy images. The enhanced output efficiency of the PZT/PVDF piezoelectric devices was confirmed by measuring the output current and voltage of the fabricated devices. The maximum output current and voltage of the PZT/PVDF piezoelectric devices was 200 nA and 350 mV, respectively, upon incorporation of 0.06 wt% CNTs.
Herein, we report the fabrication of low-voltage N-type organic field-effect transistors by using high capacitance fluorinated polymer gate dielectrics such as P(VDF-TrFE), P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE), and P(VDF-TrFE-CFE). Electronwithdrawing functional groups in PVDF-based polymers typically cause the depletion of negative charge carriers and a high contact resistance in N-channel organic semiconductors. Therefore, we incorporated intermediate layers of a low-k polymerto prevent the formation of a direct interface between PVDF-based gate insulators and the semiconducting active layer. Consequently, electron depletion is inhibited, and the high charge resistance between the semiconductor and source/drain electrodes is remarkably improved by the in corporation of solution-processed charge injection layers.
In this paper, we fabricated flexible CNT/PVDF piezoelectric composite device by introducing CNTs (carbon nanotubes) into PVDF (poly-vinylidene fluoride) solution using spray coating technique. Flexible PEDOT:PSS conducting polymer was used as electrodes. We tried to improve the piezoelectric performance from the CNT/PVDF composite film by increasing the portion of the β-phase PVDF in the film. We confirmed the structural conformation of the CNT/PVDF composite film as a function of CNT concentration by using FT-IR (fourier transform infra-red). As increasing CNT concentration, portion of the β-phase PVDF and resulting piezoelectric performance increased in the CNT/PVDF composite film. We found that CNTs introduced were played as seeds for formation of the β-phase PVDF in the CNT/PVDF composite film and resulting improvement of the piezoelectric performance.
In this paper, we fabricated flexible CNT/PVDF (carbon nanotube / polyvinylidene fluoride) piezoelectric composite device with flexible poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) conducting polymer electrode using spray coating method. We tried to improve the piezoelectric performance from the CNT/PVDF composite film by enhancing electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrodes. Electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrode was enhanced by dipping it into the EG (ethylene glycol) solvent. Changes of chemical composition of the PEDOT:PSS electrode were analyzed with the dipping time by XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) in terms of oxygen (O1s). Finally, Piezoelectric performances such as output voltage and current were measured with the dipping time. We found that enhanced electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrodes resulted in improvement of the piezoelectric performance of the CNT/PVDF films.
In this paper, we investigated the relations between dispersion of CNTs (carbon nanotubes) and electrical conductivity in the CNT/PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) composite film. By adding hydrophobic CNTs as filler into the PVDF matrix, we fabricated hydrophobic and electrically conducting polymer coating film. Dispersion of CNTs in the CNT/PVDF composite film plays a significant role in terms of electrical conductivity and wetting property. Spray coating method was used to form the CNT/PVDF composite films by injecting the dispersed CNTs in the PVDF solution with different weight ratios from 0.7 wt% to 7 wt%. We investigated the electrical properties and contact angles of the CNT/PVDF composite films with the CNT concentration. Finally we discussed the conducting mechanism and feasibility of the CNT/PVDF composite film for the conducting polymer films.
In this paper, we fabricated flexible antenna radiator using the CNT/PVDF (carbon nanotube /polyviny lidene fluoride) composite film. We used polymer film as a matrix material for the flexible devices, and introduced CNTs for adding conductivity into the film resulting in obtaining performances of the antenna radiator. Spray coating method was used to form the CNT/PVDF composite radiator, and pattern formation of the radiator was done by shadow mask during the spray coating process. We investigated the electrical properties of the CNT/PVDF composite films with the CNT concentration, and also estimated the radiator performance. Finally we discuss the feasibility of the CNT/PVDF composite radiator for the flexible antenna.
In this paper, we propose a enhanced anti-corrosion property of the ground system by coatingthe CNT/PVDF composite film on it. Polymer material used for preventing the corrosion of groundsystem is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and conducting filler for obtaining conductivity of the compositefilm is multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The MWCNTs were dispersed in the organic solventof methyl ethyl ketone 2-butanone (MEK) with different concentration ratios, and the PVDF was solvedin the MEK solvent with constant concentration ratio of 1 wt%. The CNT/PVDF composite solution wasperpared by mixing and re-dispersing the CNT solution and the PVDF solution. Finally, the CNT/PVDFcomposite films were fabricated by the spray coating method using the above composite solution. Electrical conductivity, surface states, and anti-corrosion property of the CNT/PVDF composite filmscoated on the Cu substrate were evaluated. We found that the CNT/PVDF composite film showedrelatively low resistance, hydrophobic surface state, and chemical stability. Consequently, we couldimprove the anti-corrosion property and maintain the electrical conductivity of the ground system bycoating the CNT/PVDF composite film on it.
ZnO nanowires were grown by hydrothermal synthesis process and piezoelectric poly vinylidenefluoride (PVDF) was then coated on top of the ZnO-nanowires by spray-coating technique. Thecomposite layer of ZnO-nanowires/PVDF was applied to an energy harvesting device based onpiezoelectric-conversion mechanism. A defined mechanical force was given to the nanogenerator device toevaluate their electric power generation characteristics, where output current density and voltage wereexamined. Electric power generation property of the ZnO-nanowires/PVDF based nanogenerator devicewas compared to that of the nanogenerator device with ZnO-nanowires as single active layer. Effect ofthe ZnO-nanowires on improvement of power generation was discussed to examine its feasibility for thenanogenerator device.
The carbon nanotube / poly-vinylidene fluoride (CNT/PVDF) composite films for the nano-generator devices were fabricated by spray coating method using the CNT/PVDF solution, which was prepared by adding PVDF pellets into the CNT dispersed N-Methyl-2-pyrroli-done (NMP) solution. The flexible CNT/PVDF composite films were investigated by the scanning electron microscopy, which revealed that the CNTs were uniformly dispersed in the PVDF matrix and thickness of the films was approximately 20 jim. Fourier transform infra-red spectra were used to investigate crystal structure of the as-spray-coated CNT/PVDF films, and we found that they revealed extremely large portion of the f3 phase PVDF. The capacitance of the CNT/PVDF films increased by adding CNTs into the PVDF matrix, and finally saturated. However, the resistance didn`t show any saturation effect in the CNT concentration range of 0- 4 wt%. Finally, the resulting nano-generator devices revealed reasonable current output after given mechanical stress.
Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNT) / polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric composite films for nanogenerator devices were fabricated by spray coating method. When the CNT/PVDF mixture solution passes through the spray nozzle with small diameter by the compressed nitrogen gas, electric charges are generated in the liquid by a triboelectric effect. Then randomly distributed {3 phase PVDF film could be re-oriented by the electric field resulting from the accumulated electrical charges, and might be resulted in extremely one-directionally aligned 13 phase PVDF film without additional electric field for poling. X-ray diffraction patterns were used to investigate crystal structure of the CNT/PVDF composite films. It was confirmed that they revealed extremely large portion of the f3 phase PVDF crystalline in the film. Therefore we could obtain the poled CNT/PVDF piezoelectric composite films by the spray coating method without additional poling process.