Sensing Using Piezoelectric Chiral Polymer Fiber

Abstract

To realize a new polymer sensor fabricated from a piezoelectric chiral polymer fiber, we attempted to detect the response signal induced by the shear piezoelectricity of the chiral polymer poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) under the application of stress and strain, and we confirmed that the piezoelectric response signal was sufficiently large for use as a sensor signal. We then prepared a left-hand helical torsion coil (PLLA fiber left-hand coil), which was formed by drawing a PLLA fiber ten times. It was observed that, when twisted and released suddenly, the coil exhibited a torsion vibration, and we confirmed that the piezoelectric response signal followed the torsion vibration. Next, we prepared a system in which a PLLA fiber coil was linked to a personal computer used for simple image processing. The PLLA fiber left- and right-hand coils were placed on the arm of a subject, and the inward rotation and outward rotation of the forearm and upper arm were measured. Finally, using this system, we were able to visualize the rotation of the forearm and upper arm.