36 research outputs found
Solvent Evaporation-Assisted Three-Dimensional Printing of Piezoelectric Sensors from Polyvinylidene Fluoride and its Nanocomposites
RÉSUMÉ
Les matériaux piézoélectriques sont connus pour générer des charges électriques lors de leur déformation. Leur capacité à transformer linéairement l'énergie mécanique en énergie électrique, et vice versa, est utilisée dans la détection, l'actionnement, la récupération et le stockage d'énergie. Ces appareils trouvent des applications dans les domaines de l'aérospatiale, de la biomédecine, des systèmes micro-électromécaniques, de la robotique et des sports, pour n'en nommer que quelques-uns. On retrouve la propriété de piézoélectricité dans certaines céramiques, roches, monocristaux et quelques polymères. Le poly(fluorure de vinylidène) (PVDF) est un polymère piézoélectrique qui présente un coefficient piézoélectrique très élevé par rapport aux céramiques, ce qui laisse présager des applications de détection et de récupération d'énergie. La facilité de fabrication, la flexibilité et la biocompatibilité du PVDF sont autant de qualité qui en font un très bon candidat pour ces applications. Les dispositifs actuels à base de PVDF commercial sont disponibles en films plats ou en fibres unidimensionnelles (1D). L'impression tridimensionnelle (3D) du PVDF peut amener à des sensibilités, souplesses et capacités de fabrication accrues des capteurs embarqués en cas d'impression multi-matériaux.
Le PVDF est un polymère semi-cristallin possédant cinq polymorphes, dont la phase β polaire qui présente les meilleures propriétés piézoélectriques. Malheureusement, le PVDF, provenant de la fusion ou de la dissolution, cristallise en une phase α non polaire thermodynamiquement stable. Diverses transformations physiques telles que le recuit, l'addition de charge, l'étirement ou le polissage sont effectuées pour transformer la phase α en phase β. En raison de la cristallisation inhérente du PVDF dans la phase α, il y a eu très peu de tentatives de fabrication de structures 3D à partir du PVDF. L'électrofilage en champ proche et la Déposition de Filament Fondu ont permis de fabriquer certaines structures 3D couche par couche avec du PVDF, soit avec l'application de hautes tensions électriques, soit avec la fusion à haute température du polymère. Et les deux nécessitent un traitement de polarisation pour conférer la piézoélectricité aux structures imprimés. Pour fabriquer des capteurs incorporés ou conformes, sur des substrats donnés, il est essentiel de ne pas avoir d'effets négatifs sur les matériaux adjacents à cause de la polarisation pendant le processus d'impression. Ainsi, dans ce travail, nous avons développé un procédé d'impression 3D qui crée des structures PVDF principalement en phase β, à température ambiante et sans application de tension de polarisation.----------ABSTRACT
Piezoelectric materials are known to generate electric charges upon deformation. Their ability to linearly transform mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa, is utilized in sensing, actuation, transducing, energy harvesting and storage. These devices find applications in aerospace, biomedicine, micro electromechanical systems, robotics and sports, to name a few. Piezoelectricity is found in some ceramics, rocks, single crystals and a few polymers. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a piezoelectric polymer that exhibits a very high piezoelectric stress coefficient as compared to the ceramics, making it the forerunner for sensing and energy harvesting applications. PVDF’s formability, flexibility and biocompatibility, further reinforce its candidature. Present commercial PVDF-based devices come in flat films or one-dimensional (1D) fibers. Three-dimensional (3D) printing of PVDF leads to higher sensitivity, better compliance, and ability to print embedded sensors in case of multi-material printing.
PVDF is a semi-crystalline polymer possessing five polymorphs, of which the polar β-phase exhibits highest piezoelectric properties. Unfortunately, PVDF from melt or solution crystallizes into a thermodynamically stable non-polar α-phase. Various physical transformations like annealing, filler addition, stretching or poling are carried out to transform the α-phase into β-phase. Due to the inherent crystallization of PVDF into α-phase, there have been very few attempts in fabricating 3D structures from PVDF. Near-field electrospinning and fused deposition modelling have demonstrated some layer-by-layer 3D structures with PVDF, either with application of high electric voltages or high temperature melting of the polymer, respectively. Also, both these techniques require a poling treatment to impart the desired piezoelectricity to the printed features. To fabricate embedded or conformal sensors on given substrates, it is essential to not have any adverse effects on the adjacent or substrate materials due to poling during the printing process. Thus, in this work, we develop a 3D printing process, that creates PVDF structures that inherently crystallize in the piezoelectric oriented β-phase at room temperature without any applied voltages.
Solvent-evaporation assisted 3D printing is employed to print 3D piezoelectric structures of PVDF based solutions. In this process, the polymer solution is filled into a syringe which is inserted into a pneumatic dispenser. The pneumatic dispenser is mounted on a robotic arm that is controlled via a computer program
Mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered electronic applications of textile-based piezoelectric nanogenerators: a systematic review
Environmental pollution resulting from fossil fuel consumption and the limited lifespan of batteries has shifted the focus of energy research towards the adoption of green renewable technologies. On the other hand, there is a growing potential for small, wearable, portable electronic devices. Therefore, considering the pollution caused by fossil fuels, the drawbacks of chemical batteries, and the potential applications of small-scale wearables and portable electronic devices, the development of a more effective lightweight power source is essential. In this context, piezoelectric energy harvesting technology has attracted keen attention. Piezoelectric energy harvesting technology is a process that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice-versa. Piezoelectric energy harvesters can be fabricated in various ways, including through solution casting, electrospinning, melt spinning, and solution spinning techniques. Solution and melt-spun filaments can be used to develop woven, knitted, and braided textile-based piezoelectric energy harvesters. The integration of textile-based piezoelectric energy harvesters with conventional textile clothing will be a key enabling technology in realising the next generation smart wearable electronics. This review focuses on the current achievements on textile based piezoelectric nanogenerators (T-PENGs), basic knowledge about piezoelectric materials and the piezoelectric mechanism. Additionally, the basic understanding of textiles, different fabrication methods of T-PENGs, and the strategies to improve the performance of piezoelectric nanogenerators are discussed in the subsequent sections. Finally, the challenges faced in harvesting energy using textile based piezoelectric nanogenerators (T-PENGs) are identified, and a perspective to inspire researchers working in this area is presented
Engineering of hybrid materials for self-powered flexible sensors
Department of Energy Engineering (Energy Engineering)Along with the 4th industrial revolution, the great advance in wearable electronics has led a new paradigm in our life. Especially, wearable sensor technology has received great attention as promising candidates to improve the quality of life by realizing the ???Internet of Things??? which can be utilized in daily healthcare, intelligent control, daily activity monitoring, and human-machine interface systems. The ideal wearable devices require several characteristics providing light weight, flexible, unobtrusive, autonomously powered for the convenience of user and sustainable uses. Although various emerging technologies have been suggested to meet these requirements, there are still challenges for highly flexible and unobtrusive forms, multifunctionality, and sustainable uses, which are directly related to widespread practical applications. In response to these requirements, several approaches to explore functional materials and to design the effective structures for advanced sensor performances with sustainable uses, high sensitivity, and multifunctionality. For sustainable uses, self-powered sensing system can be developed by triboelectric/piezoelectric/pyroelectric effect, which can rule out any problems with power sources. For wearable and flexible form factors, textile and extremely thin films, which are mountable and attachable on the human body, are used instead of conventional obtrusive devices, improving the wearing sensing of devices. Moreover, the selection of multifunctional materials and modification of material characteristics can realize multifunctionality which can respond to different stimuli (pressure and temperature) simultaneously. Furthermore, soft/hard and organic/inorganic hybrid materials can be used for effective design of high performance wearable sensor by distribution control in dissimilar materials, which is attributed to effectively localized strain and large contrast of dielectric properties. Therefore, self-powered wearable sensors can be developed with functional materials, unique design and novel approach for characteristic modification, which can provide a promising platform to realize ideal wearable sensors for future applications such as daily healthcare, intelligent control, daily activity monitoring, and human-machine interface systems.
In this thesis, we suggest the strategy for advanced sustainable wearable sensors with better wearing sensation, multimodality, and enhanced sensory functions through structure design and modification of material characteristics. Firstly, we briefly summarize the fundamental working principles, the latest research trends, and potential applications in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2, we demonstrate as-spun P(VDF) fiber-based self-powered textile sensors with high sensitivity, mechanical stability, and washing durability. In Chapter 3, we introduce multimodal wearable sensors without signal interference based on triboelectric and pyroelectric effect, which is attributed to controllable polarity of P(VDF-TrFE) via ferroelectric polarization. In Chapter 4, we suggest a novel method for high performance of triboelectric sensors based on alternating P(VDF-TrFE)/BaTiO3 multilayer nanocomposites, which is attributed to the efficient stress concentration and large contrast of dielectric properties. Lastly, we summarize this thesis with future prospects in Chapter 5.clos
Transduction mechanisms, micro-structuring techniques, and applications of electronic skin pressure sensors: A review of recent advances
PD/BD/105876/2014Electronic skin (e-skin), which is an electronic surrogate of human skin, aims to recreate the multifunctionality of skin by using sensing units to detect multiple stimuli, while keeping key features of skin such as low thickness, stretchability, flexibility, and conformability. One of the most important stimuli to be detected is pressure due to its relevance in a plethora of applications, from health monitoring to functional prosthesis, robotics, and human-machine-interfaces (HMI). The performance of these e-skin pressure sensors is tailored, typically through micro-structuring techniques (such as photolithography, unconventional molds, incorporation of naturally micro-structured materials, laser engraving, amongst others) to achieve high sensitivities (commonly above 1 kPa−1), which is mostly relevant for health monitoring applications, or to extend the linearity of the behavior over a larger pressure range (from few Pa to 100 kPa), an important feature for functional prosthesis. Hence, this review intends to give a generalized view over the most relevant highlights in the development and micro-structuring of e-skin pressure sensors, while contributing to update the field with the most recent research. A special emphasis is devoted to the most employed pressure transduction mechanisms, namely capacitance, piezoelectricity, piezoresistivity, and triboelectricity, as well as to materials and novel techniques more recently explored to innovate the field and bring it a step closer to general adoption by society.publishersversionpublishe
Piezoelectric Materials for Medical Applications
This chapter describes the history and development strategy of piezoelectric materials for medical applications. It covers the piezoelectric properties of materials found inside the human body including blood vessels, skin, and bones as well as how the piezoelectricity innate in those materials aids in disease treatment. It also covers piezoelectric materials and their use in medical implants by explaining how piezoelectric materials can be used as sensors and can emulate natural materials. Finally, the possibility of using piezoelectric materials to design medical equipment and how current models can be improved by further research is explored. This review is intended to provide greater understanding of how important piezoelectricity is to the medical industry by describing the challenges and opportunities regarding its future development
New generation of interactive platforms based on novel printed smart materials
Programa doutoral em Engenharia Eletrónica e de Computadores (área de Instrumentação e Microssistemas Eletrónicos)The last decade was marked by the computer-paradigm changing with other digital devices suddenly becoming available to the general public, such as tablets and smartphones. A shift in perspective from computer to materials as the centerpiece of digital interaction is leading to a diversification of interaction contexts, objects and applications, recurring to intuitive commands and dynamic content that can proportionate more interesting and satisfying experiences.
In parallel, polymer-based sensors and actuators, and their integration in different substrates or devices is an area of increasing scientific and technological interest, which current state of the art starts to permit the use of smart sensors and actuators embodied within the objects seamlessly. Electronics is no longer a rigid board with plenty of chips. New technological advances and perspectives now turned into printed electronics in polymers, textiles or paper. We are assisting to the actual scaling down of computational power into everyday use objects, a fusion of the computer with the material. Interactivity is being transposed to objects erstwhile inanimate.
In this work, strain and deformation sensors and actuators were developed recurring to functional polymer composites with metallic and carbonaceous nanoparticles (NPs) inks, leading to capacitive, piezoresistive and piezoelectric effects, envisioning the creation of tangible user interfaces (TUIs). Based on smart polymer substrates such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), among others, prototypes were prepared using piezoelectric and dielectric technologies. Piezoresistive prototypes were prepared with resistive inks and restive functional polymers. Materials were printed by screen printing, inkjet printing and doctor blade coating. Finally, a case study of the integration of the different materials and technologies developed is presented in a book-form factor.A última década foi marcada por uma alteração do paradigma de computador pelo súbito aparecimento dos tablets e smartphones para o público geral. A alteração de perspetiva do computador para os materiais como parte central de interação digital levou a uma diversificação dos contextos de interação, objetos e aplicações, recorrendo a comandos intuitivos e conteúdos dinâmicos capazes de tornarem a experiência mais interessante e satisfatória.
Em simultâneo, sensores e atuadores de base polimérica, e a sua integração em diferentes substratos ou dispositivos é uma área de crescente interesse científico e tecnológico, e o atual estado da arte começa a permitir o uso de sensores e atuadores inteligentes perfeitamente integrados nos objetos. Eletrónica já não é sinónimo de placas rígidas cheias de componentes. Novas perspetivas e avanços tecnológicos transformaram-se em eletrónica impressa em polímeros, têxteis ou papel. Neste momento estamos a assistir à redução da computação a objetos do dia a dia, uma fusão do computador com a matéria. A interatividade está a ser transposta para objetos outrora inanimados.
Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidos atuadores e sensores e de pressão e de deformação com recurso a compostos poliméricos funcionais com tintas com nanopartículas (NPs) metálicas ou de base carbónica, recorrendo aos efeitos capacitivo, piezoresistivo e piezoelétrico, com vista à criação de interfaces de usuário tangíveis (TUIs). Usando substratos poliméricos inteligentes tais como fluoreto de polivinilideno (PVDF) ou politereftalato de etileno (PET), entre outos, foi possível a preparação de protótipos de tecnologia piezoelétrica ou dielétrica. Os protótipos de tecnologia piezoresistiva foram feitos com tintas resistivas e polímeros funcionais resistivos. Os materiais foram impressos por serigrafia, jato de tinta, impressão por aerossol e revestimento de lâmina doctor blade. Para terminar, é apresentado um caso de estudo da integração dos diferentes materiais e tecnologias desenvolvidos sob o formato de um livro.This project was supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, within the doctorate
grant with reference SFRH/BD/110622/2015, by POCH – Programa Operacional Capital Humano, and
by EU – European Union
The Potential of Electrospinning to Enable the Realization of Energy-Autonomous Wearable Sensing Systems
The market for wearable electronic devices is experiencing significant growth and increasing potential for the future. Researchers worldwide are actively working to improve these devices, particularly in developing wearable electronics with balanced functionality and wearability for commercialization. Electrospinning, a technology that creates nano/microfiber-based membranes with high surface area, porosity, and favorable mechanical properties for human in vitro and in vivo applications using a broad range of materials, is proving to be a promising approach. Wearable electronic devices can use mechanical, thermal, evaporative and solar energy harvesting technologies to generate power for future energy needs, providing more options than traditional sources. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of how electrospinning technology can be used in energy-autonomous wearable wireless sensing systems. It provides an overview of the electrospinning technology, fundamental mechanisms, and applications in energy scavenging, human physiological signal sensing, energy storage, and antenna for data transmission. The review discusses combining wearable electronic technology and textile engineering to create superior wearable devices and increase future collaboration opportunities. Additionally, the challenges related to conducting appropriate testing for market-ready products using these devices are also discussed
Fibre-sized energy generation in multi-functional fabrics
This study investigates the prospects of manufacturing Piezo-fabrics with embedded piezoelectric yarns that have the potential to convert the human movement-induced mechanical strain on the fabric into electrical energy. The impact of fabric architecture on electrical power output and the translation of simulated work (in ANSYS) into real electrical outputs through the experimental validation of the piezoelectric yarns was also investigated
Development of Multifunctional E-skin Sensors
Electronic skin (e-skin) is a hot topic due to its enormous potential for health monitoring, functional prosthesis, robotics, and human-machine-interfaces (HMI). For these applications, pressure and temperature sensors and energy harvesters are essential. Their performance may be tuned by their films micro-structuring, either through expensive and time-consuming photolithography techniques or low-cost yet low-tunability approaches. This PhD thesis aimed to introduce and explore a new micro-structuring technique to the field of e-skin – laser engraving – to produce multifunctional e-skin devices able to sense pressure and temperature while being self-powered. This technique was employed to produce moulds for soft lithography, in a low-cost, fast, and highly customizable way. Several parameters of the technique were studied to evaluate their impact in the performance of the devices, such as moulds materials, laser power and speed, and design variables. Amongst the piezoresistive sensors produced, sensors suitable for blood pressure wave detection at the wrist [sensitivity of – 3.2 kPa-1 below 119 Pa, limit of detection (LOD) of 15 Pa], general health monitoring (sensitivity of 4.5 kPa-1 below 10 kPa, relaxation time of 1.4 ms, micro-structured film thickness of only 133 µm), and robotics and functional prosthesis (sensitivity of – 6.4 × 10-3 kPa-1 between 1.2 kPa and 100 kPa, stable output over 27 500 cycles) were obtained. Temperature sensors with micro-cones were achieved with a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of 2.3 %/°C. Energy harvesters based on micro-structured composites of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and zinc tin oxide (ZnSnO3) nanowires (NWs; 120 V and 13 µA at > 100 N) or zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs; 6 V at 2.3 N) were produced as well. The work described herein unveils the tremendous potential of the laser engraving technique to produce different e-skin devices with adjustable performance to suit distinct applications, with a high benefit/cost ratio