Fabrication of β-Phase-Enriched PVDF Sheets for Self-Powered Piezoelectric Sensing

The fabrication of self-powered pressure sensors based on piezoelectric materials requires flexible piezoelectric generators produced with a continuous, large-scale, and environmentally friendly approach. In this study, continuous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) sheets with a higher β-phase content were facilely fabricated by the melt-extrusion-calendering technique and a PVDF-based piezoelectric generator (PEG) was further assembled. Such a PEG exhibits a remarkable piezoelectric output performance. Moreover, it possesses prominent stability even after working for a long time, exhibiting potential applications for real-time monitoring of various human movements (i.e., hopping, running, and walking) and gait. This work not only provides the possibility of continuous and environmentally friendly fabrication of PVDF sheets with remarkable piezoelectric properties but also paves a new promising pathway for powering portable microelectronic applications without any external power supply.