Novel Flexible PVDF-TrFE and PVDF-TrFE/ZnO Pressure Sensor: Fabrication, Characterization and Investigation

With the development of human healthcare devices, smart sensors, e-skins, and pressure sensors with outstanding sensitivity, flexibility, durability and biocompatibility have attracted more and more attention. In this paper, to develop a novel flexible pressure sensor with high sensitivity, different poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE)-based composite membranes were fabricated, characterized and tested. To improve the beta-phase crystallinity and piezoelectricity of the membranes, and for the purpose of comparison, nano ZnO particles with different concentrations (99:1, 9:1 in a weight ratio of PVDF-TrFE to ZnO) were, respectively added into PVDF-TrFE polymer acting as a nucleating agent and dielectric material. To facilitate the formation of beta-phase crystal, the membranes were fabricated by electrospinning method. After the electrospinning, an annealing process was conducted to the fabricated membranes to increase the size and content of beta-phase crystal. Then, the fabricated PVDF-TrFE membranes, acting as the core sensing layer, were, respectively built into multiple prototype sensors in a sandwich structure. The sensitivity of the prototype sensors was tested by an auto-clicker. The stimulation of the auto-clicker on the prototype sensors generated electrical signals, and the electrical signals were collected by a self-built testing platform powered by LabVIEW. As a result, combining the addition of ZnO nanofillers and the annealing process, a highly sensitive pressure sensor was fabricated. The optimal peak-to-peak voltage response generated from the prototype sensor was 1.788 V which shows a 75% increase compared to that of the pristine PVDF-TrFE sensor. Furthermore, a human pulse waveform was captured by a prototype sensor which exhibits tremendous prospects for application in healthcare devices.

Automated summary

In this paper, a novel flexible pressure sensor with high sensitivity was developed by improving the beta-phase crystallinity and piezoelectricity of the PVDF-TrFE membranes. The addition of ZnO nanofillers and the annealing process significantly increased the sensitivity of the prototype sensor, showing great potential for healthcare device applications.