Controlled poling of a fully printed piezoelectric PVDF-TrFE device as a multifunctional platform with inkjet-printed silver electrodes

Fully printed piezoelectric devices are important components for seamlessly integrated circuits. Herein, for the first time, inkjet-printed silver electrodes on a screen-printed PVDF-TrFE polymer on a flexible film are reported. Studies on different inks and printing conditions are performed to select and prepare bottom and top inkjet-printed electrodes on the screen-printed PVDF-TrFE layer. Thermal-assisted electrical poling and unpoling conditions for the device are obtained, with high reproducibility and reversibility in multiple cycles. The fully printed device is investigated as a sensor, an actuator, and an energy harvester as a single device multifunctional platform. A maximum output voltage of 3.6 V is achieved in piezoelectric devices when used as a vibrational sensor. The maximum output power of 1.6 mu W with a 1.1 M omega optimum load resistor was obtained when clamped as a cantilever and accelerated at 0.75 G and characterized as a microgenerator.

Automated summary

This study reports the fabrication of fully printed piezoelectric devices with inkjet-printed silver electrodes on a flexible film. The device exhibits high reproducibility and reversibility in multiple cycles, and can function as a sensor, an actuator, and an energy harvester.