Issue

Vol. 17 (2025)

Ultra-High Sensitivity Anisotropic Piezoelectric Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring and Robotic Perception

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-024-01539-6
Hao Yin
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Yanting Li
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Zhiying Tian
Beijing Vacuum Electronics Research Institute, Beijing 100015, People’s Republic of China
Qichao Li
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Chenhui Jiang
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Enfu Liang
Fundamental Science On Vibration, Shock and Noise Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Yiping Guo
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Yiping Guo

ypguo@sjtu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 17 (2025), Article Number: 42

Abstract

Monitoring minuscule mechanical signals, both in magnitude and direction, is imperative in many application scenarios, e.g., structural health monitoring and robotic sensing systems. However, the piezoelectric sensor struggles to satisfy the requirements for directional recognition due to the limited piezoelectric coefficient matrix, and achieving sensitivity for detecting micrometer-scale deformations is also challenging. Herein, we develop a vector sensor composed of lead zirconate titanate-electronic grade glass fiber composite filaments with oriented arrangement, capable of detecting minute anisotropic deformations. The as-prepared vector sensor can identify the deformation directions even when subjected to an unprecedented nominal strain of 0.06%, thereby enabling its utility in accurately discerning the 5 μm-height wrinkles in thin films and in monitoring human pulse waves. The ultra-high sensitivity is attributed to the formation of porous ferroelectret and the efficient load transfer efficiency of continuous lead zirconate titanate phase. Additionally, when integrated with machine learning techniques, the sensor’s capability to recognize multi-signals enables it to differentiate between 10 types of fine textures with 100% accuracy. The structural design in piezoelectric devices enables a more comprehensive perception of mechanical stimuli, offering a novel perspective for enhancing recognition accuracy.


Highlights:
1 A novel anisotropic sensor with oriented piezoelectric filaments was prepared, capable of detecting both the magnitude and direction of micro-deformations.
2 Due to the efficient load transfer of continuous fibers and the formation of porous ferroelectrets, an ultra-low strain detection limit of 0.06% was achieved in the sensor.
3 Given the sensor's ultra-low detection limit and deformation direction sensing capability, we developed the sensor for detecting micron-scale deformations in thin-film structures and for robotic tactile sensing applications.

Keywords

Flexible piezoelectric filaments Anisotropic Ultra-high sensitivity Structural health detection Texture recognition
Yin, Hao, Yanting Li, Zhiying Tian, Qichao Li, Chenhui Jiang, Enfu Liang, and Yiping Guo. 2024. “Ultra-High Sensitivity Anisotropic Piezoelectric Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring and Robotic Perception”. Nano-Micro Letters 17 (October):42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-024-01539-6.
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