The research of effective flexoelectric coefficient along 1123 direction in polyvinylidene fluoride

Abstract

All dielectric materials exhibit flexoelectricity defined as a strain gradient-induced electric polarization. The flexoelectric coefficient measures electric polarization induced by strain gradient in dielectric materials. In this work, an approach to measure the 1123 component of the flexoelectric coefficient of polymeric materials is presented. Theoretical analysis and finite element analysis are performed on an un-polarized polyvinylidene fluoride rectangular beam. When deformation occurs in the specimen, a normal strain gradient is generated. The consistency of the elastic deformation determined through calculations and experimental measurements under applied loads was good. The experimental system was set up as follows: a circular sine wave load with bias value was applied to the specimen and the strain gradient-induced electric charge curve was measured. The flexoelectric coefficient μ1123 was obtained and was consistent with our theoretical calculations of the electric polarization induced by the strain gradients. This study provides experimental support for further theoretical investigations of flexoelectricity in polymers and may expand the range of applications of flexoelectric effects.