Electrospun Core-Sheath PVDF Piezoelectric Fiber for Sensing Application

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Piezoelectric polymer sensors offer flexibility, low density, and high piezoelectric constants, ideal for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing.
• Architectural design is key to enhancing the performance of piezoelectric sensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile and reliable method for fabricating core-sheath piezoelectric fibers (C-PEF).
• To demonstrate the application of C-PEF in bending deformation sensing for airflow speed and human sleep behavior monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Direct electrospinning of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) onto stainless steel wires to create C-PEF.
• Assembly of C-PEF into piezoelectric bending sensors and piezoelectric spring sensors.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated C-PEF with good response to bending deformation.
• Demonstrated C-PEF's capability for airflow speed sensing and monitoring human sleep behavior using a spring-like structure (S-C-PEF).

Conclusions:

• A low-cost, facile, and reliable method for developing multigeometric piezoelectric sensors was established.
• The developed C-PEF shows significant potential for applications in bending sensing and health monitoring.