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Vol. 13 (2021)

Superflexible and Lead-Free Piezoelectric Nanogenerator as a Highly Sensitive Self-Powered Sensor for Human Motion Monitoring

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-021-00649-9
Di Yu
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Zhipeng Zheng
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Jiadong Liu
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Hongyuan Xiao
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People’s Republic of China
Geng Huangfu
State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and 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. 13 (2021), Article Number: 117

Abstract

For traditional piezoelectric sensors based on poled ceramics, a low curie temperature (Tc) is a fatal flaw due to the depolarization phenomenon. However, in this study, we find the low Tc would be a benefit for flexible piezoelectric sensors because small alterations of force trigger large changes in polarization. BaTi0.88Sn0.12O3 (BTS) with high piezoelectric coefficient and low Tc close to human body temperature is taken as an example for materials of this kind. Continuous piezoelectric BTS films were deposited on the flexible glass fiber fabrics (GFF), self-powered sensors based on the ultra-thin, superflexible, and polarization-free BTS-GFF/PVDF composite piezoelectric films are used for human motion sensing. In the low force region (1–9 N), the sensors have the outstanding performance with voltage sensitivity of 1.23 V N−1 and current sensitivity of 41.0 nA N−1. The BTS-GFF/PVDF sensors can be used to detect the tiny forces of falling water drops, finger joint motion, tiny surface deformation, and fatigue driving with high sensitivity. This work provides a new paradigm for the preparation of superflexible, highly sensitive and wearable self-powered piezoelectric sensors, and this kind of sensors will have a broad application prospect in the fields of medical rehabilitation, human motion monitoring, and intelligent robot.


Highlights:


1 Continuous piezoelectric BaTi0.88Sn0.12O3 (BTS) films were deposited on glass fiber fabrics successfully.
2 Superflexible, highly sensitive self-powered piezoelectric sensors were fabricated based on polarization-free BTS.
3 Low curie temperature would be a benefit for flexible piezoelectric sensors because small alterations of force will trigger large changes in polarization.
4 The superflexible sensors are highly desirable for wearable devices to detect human motion.

Keywords

Superflexible Piezoelectric sensors Curie temperature Human motion sensing
Yu, Di, Zhipeng Zheng, Jiadong Liu, Hongyuan Xiao, Geng Huangfu, and Yiping Guo. 2021. “Superflexible and Lead-Free Piezoelectric Nanogenerator As a Highly Sensitive Self-Powered Sensor for Human Motion Monitoring”. Nano-Micro Letters 13 (April):117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-021-00649-9.
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