Graphene/P(VDF-TrFE) Heterojunction Based Wearable Sensors with Integrated Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

Graphene, with its outstanding material properties, including high carrier mobility, atomically thin nature, and ability to tolerate mechanical deformation related strain up to 20% before breaking, make it very attractive for developing highly sensitive and conformable strain/pressure sensor for wearable electronics. Unfortunately, graphene by itself is not piezoresistive, so developing a strain sensor utilizing just graphene is challenging. Fortunately, graphene synthesized on Cu foil can be transferred to arbitrary substrates (preserving its high quality), including flexible polymer substrates, which will allow the overall flexibility and conformability of the sensing element, to be maintained. Furthermore, a graphene/polymer based sensor devices can be easily patterned into an array over dimensions reaching several feet, taking advantage of large area synthesis of graphene, which will make the ultimate sensor very inexpensive. If a piezo-electric polymer, such as P(VDF-TrFE), is chosen to form a heterojunction with graphene, it will strongly affect the carrier density in graphene, due to the fixed charge developing on its surface under strain or pressure. Taking advantage of the high carrier mobility in graphene, such a charge change can result in very high sensitivity to pressure and strain. Hence, these features, coupled with the flexible nature of the device and ease of fabrication, make it a very attractive candidate for use in the growing wearable technology market, especially biomedical applications and smart health monitoring system as well as virtual reality sensors. In this dissertation, various unique properties of graphene and P(VDF-TrFE), and their current applications and trends are discussed in chapter 1. Additionally, synthesis of graphene and P(VDF-TrFE) and their characterizations by various techniques are investigated in chapter 2. Based on piezoelectric property of P(VDF-TrFE), a highly flexible energy harvesters on PDMS as well as PET substrates have been developed and demonstrated their performances in chapter 3. As follow-up research, graphene/P(VDF-TrFE) heterojunction based wearable sensors with integrated piezoelectric energy harvester on flexible substrates have also been fabricated and demonstrated for practical wearable application in chapter 4. Finally, major findings and future directions of the project are discussed in chapter 5

Ferroelectric Polymer PVDF-Based Nanogenerator

This chapter deals with the development of ferroelectric polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based nanogenerators. Due to its inherent flexibility, PVDF has been studied for application in nanogenerators. We first introduce PVDF and its copolymers, and briefly discuss their properties. Then, we discuss fabrication methods, including solution casting, spin coating, template-assisted method, electrospinning, thermal drawing, and dip coating. Using these methods, a wide variety of ferroelectric polymer structures can be fabricated. In addition to the performance enhancements provided by fabrication methods, the performance of PVDF-based nanogenerators has been improved by incorporating fillers that can alter the factors affecting the performance. Next, we review energy sources that can be exploited by PVDF-based nanogenerators to harvest electricity. The abundant energy sources in the environment include sound, wind flow, and thermal fluctuation. Finally, we discuss implantable PVDF-based nanogenerators. Another advantage of PVDF is its biocompatibility, which enables implantable nanogenerators. We believe that this chapter can also be helpful to researchers who study sensors and actuators as well as nanogenerators

An Experimental Investigation Of Piezoelectric P (VDF-TrFE) Thick Film On Flexible Substrate As Energy Harvester

This paper proposes an experimental investigation of energy harvester using poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) or P(VDF-TrFE) thick-film on flexible substrate by using print screen and rod method. Polyester film being used as the substrate where a sandwiched layer of electrode-piezopolymer-electrode thick film is deposited on. The thick-film is then annealed at 100°C and polarized at 100 V for the film with a thickness of about 18µm, being inspected under EDX, FESEM and XRD. The fabricated energy harvester piezoelectric is able to generate a maximum output power of 4.36 µW at an externa l electrical load of 1 kΩ with a maximum peak-to-peak of about 3.0V when an impact free-fall force of 0.2N was applied on the thick-film

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

Magnetoelectrics: Three centuries of research heading towards the 4.0 industrial revolution

Magnetoelectric (ME) materials composed of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases have been the subject of decades of research due to their versatility and unique capability to couple the magnetic and electric properties of the matter. While these materials are often studied from a fundamental point of view, the 4.0 revolution (automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices, using modern smart technology) and the Internet of Things (IoT) context allows the perfect conditions for this type of materials being effectively/finally implemented in a variety of advanced applications. This review starts in the era of Rontgen and Curie and ends up in the present day, highlighting challenges/directions for the time to come. The main materials, configurations, ME coefficients, and processing techniques are reported.This research was funded by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia: projects UID/FIS/04650/2019, PTDC/EEI-SII/5582/2014, PTDC/BTM-MAT/28237/2017 and PTDC/EMD-EMD/28159/2017 and grants CEECIND/03975/2017, SFRH/BD/132624/2017 and SFRH/BD/131729/2017; the SpanishState Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD): project PID2019-106099RB-C43/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; Basque Government Industry and Education Departments:ELKARTEK, HAZITEK and PIBA (PIBA-2018-06) programs.The authors thank the FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia- for financial supportin the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2019 and under projects PTDC/EEI-SII/5582/2014, PTDC/BTM-MAT/28237/2017 and PTDC/EMD-EMD/28159/2017. P.M., A.C.L. and N.P. also support from FCT (forthe contract under the Stimulus of Scientific Employment, Individual Support—2017 Call (CEECIND/03975/2017, forthe SFRH/BD/132624/2017 and for the SFRH/BD/131729/2017 grant, respectively). Finally, the authors acknowledgefunding by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD)through the project PID2019-106099RB-C43/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.and from the Basque Government Industryand Education Department under the ELKARTEK, HAZITEK and PIBA (PIBA-2018-06) programs, respectively

Dispositifs souples pour la récupération d’énergie à base de matériaux organiques piezoélectriques P(VDF-TrFE) imprimés

This work aims to study innovative solutions for energy harvesting applicable toautonomous wireless sensors for IoT (Internet of Things). It is focused on flexiblepiezoelectric composite materials and a multi-physical approach. The objective is to harvestenergy via strain-induced phenomena from both mechanical and thermal sources, andparticularly sources neglected so far (slow and low). The main idea is the hybridization ofdifferent functional materials with the core of the system being screen printed piezo/pyroelectricmicrogenerators, mandatory to generate electrical charges. The originality of thiswork is to realize large area flexible energy harvesting systems by using ink-basedpiezoelectric copolymers of polyvinylidene fluoride P(VDF-TrFE). This material is veryflexible and durable which makes it attractive for applications in systems with complexshapes. Another benefit of P(VDF-TrFE) is that it does not need to be pre-stretched as PVDFand it is now available in inks for printable electronics which can simplify and reduce theprice of the fabrication process.We first describe the fabrication process of the screen printed P(VDF-TrFE)microgenerators, followed by ferroelectric and piezoelectric characterizations. For thispurpose we have developed optimized methods in open-circuit conditions adapted for flexiblesystems tested and validated on commercial bulk PVDF. The last step was to realize a lowprofile thermal flexible energy harvester prototype (no radiator). It was done by hybridizationof the fabricated microgenerators and foils of shape memory NiTi-based alloy, which is afunctional material sensitive to a given temperature threshold.The key outcomes of this work are: 1) the successful deposition of multilayers ofP(VDF-TrFE) and organic PEDOT:PSS electrode, 2) dielectric, ferroelectric and directpiezoelectric constants reported as a function of film thickness, and 3) the g31 direct voltagecoefficient, measured for the first time, and showing the record value of 0.15 V·m/N. Also,we have demonstrated that in open-circuit conditions, the microgenerators can produce auseful strain-induced voltage of 10 V with an energy density close to 500 μJ/cm3, these valuesbeing limited by the experimental set-up.The concept of thermal energy harvesting composite based on thin film screen printedP(VDF-TrFE) microgenerators was realized and demonstrated to be effective. We concludewith a functional prototype of flexible energy harvester, able to detect non-continuous slowthermal events and producing 37 V (corresponding to 95 μJ) at 65 ºC.Le but de cette thèse était d’étudier des solutions innovantes pour la récupération d’énergie pour pouvoir alimenter de manière autonome les futurs capteurs et nœuds communicants sans fil de l’Internet des Objets (IoT pour Internet of Things). Le travail s’est focalisé sur des matériaux piézoélectriques souples et sur une approche composite et multiphysique. L’objectif est de récupérer de l’énergie à partir de déformations directes ou induites provenant de sources à la fois mécaniques et thermiques et en particulier de sources négligées jusqu’alors (lentes et de faibles intensités). L’idée maitresse est l’hybridation de plusieurs matériaux fonctionnels avec un cœur du système constitué par des microgénérateurs piézoélectriques (et pyroélectriques) imprimés nécessaires à la génération de charges électriques. L’originalité de ce travail est d’avoir réalisé un système de récupération d’énergie entièrement flexible, au format d’une carte de crédit et compatible avec de plus grandes dimensions, en utilisant des copolymères piézoélectriques de P(VDF-TrFE) sous forme d’encres. Ce matériau est flexible et particulièrement résistant, ce qui le rend attractif pour desapplications mettant en jeu formes complexes, notamment, courbes. Un autre avantage du copolymère de P(VDF-TrFE) est qu’il ne nécessite pas de pré-déformation mécanique comme pour le polymère PVDF et il commence à être aujourd’hui disponible sous forme d’encres pour l’électronique imprimée, ce qui simplifiera et réduira les coûts de fabrication à termes.En premier, nous décrivons le procédé de fabrication par sérigraphie des microgénérateurs en P(VDF-TrFE), suivi par les caractérisations ferroélectriques puis piézoélectriques des dispositifs. A cet effet, nous avons développé des techniques de mesures originales en circuit ouvert qui ont été testées et validées au préalable avec des échantillons dePVDF commercial. La dernière étape a été de réaliser un prototype de récupération d’énergie thermique flexible de faible encombrement (sans radiateur). Cela a été réalisé en hybridant les microgénérateurs précédemment fabriqués avec des feuilles d’alliages à mémoire de forme thermique à base de NiTi, qui est un matériau sensible à un seuil de température donnée.Les résultats phares de cette étude sont : 1) le dépôt multicouches de P(VDF-TrFE)combiné au dépôt d’une électrode souple en PEDOT:PSS, β) l’établissement des caractéristiques ferroélectriques et piézoélectriques en fonction de l’épaisseur de P(VDFTrFE) et enfin γ) la détermination d’un coefficient g31 supérieur à la normale avec0.15 V·m/N. Aussi, nous avons démontré la capacité de ces microgénérateurs à délivrer des tensions utiles de l’ordre de 10 V avec ici une densité d’énergie de proche de 500 μJ/cm3, ces valeurs étant limitées aux conditions de test utilisées.Nous concluons ce travail sur une preuve de concept fonctionnelle de récupérateur d’énergie thermique flexible apte à détecter ou utiliser des variations lentes et faibles de température à partir de sources élémentaires, produisant pour l’instant γ7 V (correspondant à95 μJ) à 65 ºC, et qui à termes pourront être l’air ambiant (chaud ou froid) ou la chaleur de la peau

Development and characterization of sensors fabricated from polymer based magnetoelectric nanocomposites

Tese de Doutoramento em Engenharia Electrónica e de ComputadoresSensors are increasingly used in many applications areas, integrated in structures, industrial machinery, or in the environment, contributing to improve the society level of well-being. It is expected that sensorization will play on of the most relevant roles in the fourth industrial revolution, and allow, together with mechanization and informatization, a full automation. Particularly, magnetic sensors allow measurements, without physical contact, of parameters such as direction, presence, rotation, angle, or current, in addition to magnetic field. In this way, for most applications, such sensors offer a safe, noninvasive and non-destructive measurement, as well as provide a reliable and almost maintenance-free technology. Industry demands for smaller, cheaper and low-powered magnetic sensors, motivating the exploration of new materials and different technologies, such as polymerbased magnetoelectric (ME) composites. These composites are flexible, versatile, lightweight, low cost, easy to model in complicated shapes, and typically involve a lowtemperature fabrication process, being in this way, a solution for innovative magnetic sensor device applications. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis is the development of polymer-based ME sensors to be incorporated into technological devices. Thus, the ME effect is increasingly being considered an attractive alternative for magnetic field and current sensing, being able to sense static and dynamic magnetic fields. In order to obtain a wide-range ME response, a nanocomposite of Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92 (Terfenol-D)/CoFe2O4/poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) was produced and their morphological, piezoelectric, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties investigated. The obtained composites reveals a high piezoelectric response (≈-18 pC∙N- 1) that is independent of the weight ratio between the fillers. In turn, the magnetic properties of the composites are influenced by the composite composition. It was found that the magnetization saturation values decrease with increasing CoFe2O4 content (from 18.5 to 13.3 emu∙g-1) while the magnetization and coercive field values increase (from 3.7 to 5.5 emu∙g-1 and from 355.7 to 1225.2 Oe, respectively) with increasing CoFe2O4 content. Additionally, the films show a wide-range dual-peak ME response at room temperature with the ME coefficient increasing with increasing weight content of Terfenol-D, from 18.6 mV∙cm-1∙Oe-1 to 42.3 mV∙cm-1∙Oe-1. The anisotropic ME effect on a Fe61.6Co16.4Si10.8B11.2 (FCSB)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/FCSB laminate composite has been used for the development of a magnetic field sensor able to detect both magnitude and direction of ac and dc magnetic fields. The accuracy (99% for both ac and dc sensors), linearity (92% for the dc sensor and 99% for the ac sensor), sensitivity (15 and 1400 mV∙Oe-1 for the dc and ac fields, respectively), and reproducibility (99% for both sensors) indicate the suitability of the sensor for applications. A dc magnetic field sensor based on a PVDF/Metglas composite and the corresponding readout electronic circuits for processing the output ME voltage were developed. The ME sensing composite presents an electromechanical resonance frequency close to 25.4 kHz, a linear response (r2=0.997) in the 0–2 Oe dc magnetic field range, and a maximum output voltage of 112 mV (ME voltage coefficient α33 of ≈30 V∙cm-1∙Oe-1). By incorporating a charge amplifier, an ac–rms converter and a microcontroller with an on chip analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the ME voltage response is not distorted, the linearity is maintained, and the ME output voltage increases to 3.3 V (α33effective=1000 V∙cm-1∙Oe-1). The sensing device, including the readout electronics, has a maximum drift of 0.12 Oe with an average total drift of 0.04 Oe, a sensitivity of 1.5 V∙Oe-1 (15 kV∙T-1), and a 70 nT resolution. Such properties allied to the accurate measurement of the dc magnetic field in the 0–2 Oe range makes this polymerbased device very attractive for applications, such as Earth magnetic field sensing, digital compasses, navigation, and magnetic field anomaly detectors. A dc current sensor device based on a ME PVDF/Metglas composite, a solenoid, and the corresponding electronic instrumentation were developed. The ME sample exhibits a maximum α33 of 34.48V∙cm-1∙Oe-1, a linear response (r2=0.998) and a sensitivity of 6.7 mV∙A-1. With the incorporation of a charge amplifier, a precision ac/dc converter and a microcontroller, the linearity is maintained (r2=0.997), the ME output voltage increases to a maximum of 2320 mV and the sensitivity is increased to 476.5 mV∙A-1. Such features indicate that the fabricated ME sensing device is suitable to be used in non-contact electric current measurement, motor operational status checking, and condition monitoring of rechargeable batteries, among others. In this way, polymer-based ME composites proved to be suitable for magnetic field and current sensor applications.Os sensores estão a ser cada vez mais utilizados em diversas áreas, integrados em estruturas, máquinas industriais ou projetos ambientais, contribuindo para melhorar o nível de bem-estar e eficiência da nossa sociedade. Espera-se que a “sensorização” contribua decisivamente para a quarta revolução industrial, e que permita, em conjunto com a mecanização e a informatização, uma completa automação. Em particular, os sensores magnéticos permitem medir parâmetros como a direção, presença, rotação, ângulo ou corrente, para além do campo magnético, tudo isto sem qualquer contacto físico. Assim, para a maioria das aplicações, estes sensores oferecem uma medição segura, não invasiva e não destrutiva, para além de garantirem uma tecnologia confiável e de escassa manutenção. A indústria procura e exige sensores magnéticos mais pequenos, mais baratos e de baixo consumo, daí a motivação para explorar novos materiais e diferentes tecnologias, tais como os compósitos magnetoelétricos (ME) baseados em polímeros. Estes compósitos são flexíveis, versáteis, leves, de baixo custo, fáceis de se modelar em formas complexas e tipicamente envolvem um processo de fabricação a baixa temperatura, constituindo uma solução fiável e de qualidade para os sensores magnéticos. É da constatação deste potencial que surge este estudo e o objetivo desta tese: o desenvolvimento de sensores ME de base polimérica. O efeito ME é cada vez mais considerado como uma alternativa credível para a medição de campo magnético e da intensidade da corrente elétrica, podendo detetar campos magnéticos estáticos e dinâmicos. De modo a obter uma gama mais alargada de resposta ME, produziram-se nanocompósitos de Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92 (Terfenol-D)/CoFe2O4/poli(fluoreto de vinilideno trifluor-etileno) (P(VDF-TrFE) e as suas propriedades morfológicas, piezoelétricas, magnéticas e magnetoelétricas foram investigadas. Os compósitos obtidos revelam uma elevada resposta piezoelétrica (≈-18 pC∙N-1) que é independente da percentagem de cada material magnetoestrictivo. Por sua vez, as propriedades magnéticas são influenciadas pela composição dos compósitos. Verificou-se que a magnetização de saturação diminuí com o aumento da percentagem de CoFe2O4 (de 18.5 para 13.3 emu∙g-1) enquanto que a magnetização e o campo coercivo aumentam (de 3.7 para 5.5 emu∙g-1 e de 355.7 para 1225.2 Oe, respetivamente) com o aumento da percentagem em massa de CoFe2O4. O efeito ME anisotrópico num compósito Fe61.6Co16.4Si10.8B11.2 (FCSB)/ poli(fluoreto de vinilideno) (PVDF)/FCSB laminado foi utilizado para desenvolver um sensor de campo magnético capaz de detetar tanto a magnitude como a direção de campos magnéticos ac e dc. A exatidão (99% para ambos os sensores ac e dc), linearidade (92% para o sensor dc e 99% para o ac), sensibilidade (15 e 1400 mV∙Oe-1 para o sensor dc e ac, respetivamente) e reprodutibilidade (99% para ambos os sensores) indicam a aptidão destes sensores para aplicações avançadas. Desenvolveu-se ainda um sensor de campo magnético dc baseado num compósito ME de PVDF/Metglas, bem como a correspondente eletrónica de leitura para processar a tensão de saída ME. O compósito ME apresenta uma ressonância eletromecânica de aproximadamente 25.4 kHz, uma resposta linear (r2=0.997) para uma gama de campos magnéticos dc entre 0–2 Oe e uma tensão de saída máxima de 112 mV (coeficiente ME α33≈30 V∙cm-1∙Oe-1). Ao incorporar um amplificador de carga, um conversor ac–rms e um microcontrolador com um conversor analógico-digital (ADC), a tensão ME não é distorcida, a linearidade manteve-se e a tensão ME aumentou para 3.3 V (α33efectivo=1000 V∙cm-1∙Oe-1). O sensor, incluindo a eletrónica de leitura, obteve um desvio máximo de 0.12 Oe com um desvio total médio de 0.04 Oe, uma sensibilidade de 1.5 V∙Oe-1 (15 kV∙T-1) e 70 nT de resolução. Tais propriedades aliadas à medida exata do campo magnético dc entre 0–2 Oe tornam este dispositivo indicado para aplicações como sensores de campo magnético terrestre, compassos digitais, navegação e detetores de anomalia no campo magnético. Foi ainda possível desenvolver e otimizar um sensor de corrente baseado num compósito ME de PVDF/Metglas, num solenoide e na correspondente eletrónica de instrumentação. A amostra ME exibe um α33 máximo de 34.48V∙cm-1∙Oe-1, uma resposta linear (r2=0.998) e uma sensibilidade de 6.7 mV∙A-1. Com a incorporação de um amplificador de carga, um conversor ac/dc de precisão e um microcontrolador, a linearidade manteve-se, a tensão ME aumentou para um máximo de 2320 mV e a sensibilidade subiu para 476.5 mV∙A-1. Estas propriedades tornam este sensor ME apropriado para a medição de corrente elétrica sem contato, para a verificação do estado de funcionamento de motores e para monitorização da condição de baterias recarregáveis, entre outros. Concluindo-se deste modo que os compósitos de ME com base em polímeros provaram ser adequados para aplicações na medição de campos magnéticos e intensidade de corrente elétrica

Recent Structure development of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based piezoelectric nanogenerator for self-powered sensor

As the internet of things (IoT) era approaches, various sensors, and wireless electronic devices such as smartphones, smart watches, and earphones are emerging. As the types and functions of electronics are diversified, the energy consumption of electronics increases, which causes battery charging and maintenance issues. The piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) received great attention as an alternative to solving the energy issues of future small electronics. In particular, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric polymer-based PENGs are strong potential candidate with robust mechanical properties and a high piezoelectric coefficient. In this review, we summarize the recent significant advances of the development of PVDF-based PENGs for self-powered energy-harvesting systems. We discuss the piezoelectric properties of the various structures of PVDF-based PENGs such as thin film, microstructure, nanostructure, and nanocomposite. © 2020 by the authors.1

Ultra-thin IDE Pulse Wave Sensor

The monitoring of vital signs is used to determine human health status. Healthcare monitoring devices are usually attached to the human skin to obtain information about the human body. However, the main inconvenience of using conventional electronic devices is the mechanical mismatch between the devices and the skin. This issue can lead to measurement errors, and patient comfort can be affected negatively when these devices are used continuously. Therefore, it is needed to develop skin-conformal electronic devices to overcome these drawbacks. This thesis explores the fabrication process of ultrathin interdigitated pulse wave sensors based on the piezoelectric effect. The aim of this research is to demonstrate that printed electronics technologies are an excellent alternative to fabricate low-cost skin-conformal sensors. First, this thesis explores the theoretical background of piezoelectricity, flexible and ultrathin piezoelectric pressure sensors, and printed electronics technologies. Then, the fabrication process is analyzed. The sensor is fabricated onto a Parylene-C substrate using the piezoelectric polymer P(VDF-TrF) and the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS. Preliminary experiments are done to determine substrate wettability and to characterize the electrical properties of the conductive ink. A substrate surface treatment is used to modify the wetting properties of the substrate. The effect of the surface treatment exposure time is evaluated by measuring the width of printed lines. The experiment results are used to evaluate the sensor structure printing process. IDE structure is fabricated by inkjet printing, and the piezoelectric layer is screen printed on top of the electrodes. Electrical properties and piezoelectric sensitivity of the final samples are characterized. The results of this research show that the ink and substrate properties have an impact on the performance of the printed structures. The surface energy of the substrate is modified to improve its wettability. Thus, UV/O₃ surface treatment can be used to make Parylene-C hydro-philic. Furthermore, the IDE structure can be fabricated by inkjet printing technology. However, the coffeering effect is observed in narrow PEDOT:PSS inkjet printed lines (i.e. IDE fingers). This may have an impact on the conductivity of the lines due to the non-uniform distribution of the material. On the other hand, the validation of the piezoelectric sensitivity characterization suggests that the poling process has to be improved to guarantee the operation of the device as a piezoelectric sensor. The results of this research validate that ultrathin sensors can be fabricated using printed electronics technologies. The overall thickness of the sensors is below 6 µm. In conclusion, further research has to be done to activate properly the piezoelectric properties of the P(VDF-TrFE) material in this sensor configuration