Piezoelectric properties of polyamide 11/NaNbO₃ nanowire composites

Abstract

Abstract Polyamide 11(PA 11)/sodium niobate nanowire (NW) 0–3 composites with different volume fractions of NWs were synthesized. The electric polarization ( P ) was measured as a function of the applied electric field ( E ). The P – E hysteresis loop was used to work out the remanent polarization P r of these materials. The dielectric permittivity and the piezoelectric strain constant were determined. Good impedance matching between inorganic and organic phases leads to higher electroactivity than conventional lead-free 0–3 composites. The piezoelectric voltage of the PA 11/NaNbO 3 NW composites is of the same order as those obtained for fluorinated piezoelectric polymers. These composites could have some applications in flexible, low-cost, environmentally friendly piezoelectric sensors and actuators.