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Rochelle Salt-Based Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Composite Produced with Simple Additive Manufacturing Techniques
Etienne Lemaire1,2, Damien Thuau3, Jean-Baptiste De Vaulx2
1GREMAN, UMR-CNRS7347, Polytech Tours, Université de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 23, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a novel method for creating piezoelectric devices from renewable agro-resources like Rochelle salt (RS) and polylactide (PLA). These eco-friendly devices exhibit good piezoelectric properties, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity were first discovered in Rochelle salt crystals over a century ago.
- Modern society requires a transition towards sustainable and circular economic models.
- Traditional piezoelectric device manufacturing can be energy-intensive and rely on non-renewable resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a sustainable method for manufacturing piezoelectric devices using agro-resources.
- To reduce the energy consumption and equipment complexity in piezoelectric device fabrication.
- To create biodegradable and recyclable piezoelectric materials with competitive properties.
Main Methods:
- Manufacturing piezoelectric devices using liquid-phase epitaxy-grown Rochelle salt (RS) crystals.
- Embedding RS crystals within a 3D-printed poly(Lactic acid) (PLA) matrix, mimicking natural wood structures.
- Utilizing renewable materials and low processing temperatures for fabrication in fablab settings.
Main Results:
- The composite material is produced using renewable resources at low processing temperatures, significantly reducing energy consumption.
- Manufactured biodegradable samples are fully recyclable and demonstrate good piezoelectric properties without a poling step.
- The measured piezoelectric coefficients of the manufactured samples exceed those of many piezoelectric polymers, including PVDF-TrFE.
Conclusions:
- A novel, energy-efficient, and sustainable method for producing piezoelectric devices from agro-resources has been established.
- The developed composite material offers a biodegradable, recyclable, and high-performance alternative to conventional piezoelectric materials.
- This approach supports the transition to a circular economy by enabling local production of advanced piezoelectric devices with reduced environmental impact.
