Micropatterned P(VDF‐TrFE) Film‐Based Piezoelectric Nanogenerators for Highly Sensitive Self‐Powered Pressure Sensors

TLDR

The high performance of the nanogenerators is attributed to strain differences between flat and micropatterned P(VDF‑TrFE) films, with COMSOL simulations showing that patterning enhances effective pressure and thus output. Micropatterned P(VDF‑TrFE) PNGs deliver nearly five times the power of flat films and enable highly sensitive self‑powered pressure sensors that can be driven by water droplets and wind.

Abstract

Here micropatterned poly(vinylidenefluoride‐ co ‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) films‐based piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs) with high power‐generating performance for highly sensitive self‐powered pressure sensors are demonstrated. The microstructured P(VDF‐TrFE)‐based PNGs reveal nearly five times larger power output compared to a flat film‐based PNG. The micropatterning of P(VDF‐TrFE) polymer makes itself ultrasensitive in response to mechanical deformation. The application is demonstrated successfully as self‐powered pressure sensors in which mechanical energy comes from water droplet and wind. The mechanism of the high performance is intensively discussed and illustrated in terms of strain developed in the flat and micropatterned P(VDF‐TrFE) films. The impact derived from the patterning on the output performance is studied in term of effective pressure using COMSOL multiphysics software.