Paper‐Embedded Roll‐to‐Roll Mass Printed Piezoelectric Transducers

Abstract

The trend to a world with ubiquitous electronics has the need for novel concepts for sensors and actuators that are lightweight, flexible, low‐cost, and also sustainable. Piezoelectric transducers on the basis of functional polymers can meet these expectations. In this work, a novel concept for paper‐embedded large‐area piezoelectric devices realized solely by means of roll‐to‐roll (R2R) mass printing and post printing technologies including inline poling are introduced. The device set‐up, as well as the process technology, offers the great opportunity for a cost‐efficient and environmentally friendly mass production of thin and flexible organic large‐area piezoelectric devices. As the functional layers are embedded into paper by the hot lamination of two poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) P(VDF‐TrFE) layers, the printed electronics is protected and invisible. The paper gives insights to the R2R printing of a 500 m long web including R2R post printing processes and electrical and acoustic inline characterization. Fully R2R processed devices show a high remnant polarization of up to 78 mC m−2 and can be realized with high yield of >90%. Finally, a 360° surround‐sound installation realized with a 387 cm long paper web consisting of 56 piezoelectric speakers including wiring is presented.

Printed Multilayer Piezoelectric Transducers on Paper for Haptic Feedback and Dual Touch-Sound Sensation

“…The SPL was recorded at a distance of 10 cm. It is worth mentioning that, despite the flat mounting of the device, which is in contrast to our former publications on printed piezoelectric loudspeakers [ 23 , 24 , 30 , 31 , 34 ] and the compact size of the transducer, a remarkably high SPL of more than 90 dB was achieved for a wide frequency range from ~2 kHz to 17 kHz. For the haptics application, the low frequency range between 100 and 500 Hz is important.…”

“…Our group demonstrated fully mass printed large-area piezoelectric actuators on the basis of electroactive polymers (EAP) on thin foil and paper substrates for flexible loudspeakers [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Recently, a truly fully roll-to-roll manufacturing line for paper embedded transducers was presented [ 23 ].…”

Memristive devices based on mass printed organic resistive switching layers

“…Ambient conditions (temperature, humidity) were kept constant or within limits during the printing process. However, irregularities in the layer thickness are also caused by non-fully automated ink feeding and variation of the printing pressure, as was observed recently [53]. A reproducible layer thickness control within a few nm is difficult to accomplish in roll-to-roll printing technology and is a disadvantage compared to clean room techniques (e. g. vapour deposition, ALD), but also non-contact printing techniques, like electrohydrodynamic printing.…”

Polydimethylsiloxane-Assisted Catalytic Printing for Highly Conductive, Adhesive, and Precise Metal Patterns Enabled on Paper and Textiles

“…Conventional brittle silicon-based electronics, mainly manufactured by complicated photolithography and vacuum deposition methods with high cost, − are not compatible with the uprising flexible and wearable devices. In the past decade, tremendous interest in printed electronics, where circuits or devices can be printed on flexible and wearable substrates, have become evident. − Printing methods with great patterning capability including contact (screen-printing) and noncontact [inkjet printing, three-dimensional (3D) printing] , modes have been developed. These methods are compatible with solution-based and roll-to-roll processes on flexible substrates such as bendable plastics or paper , and even textiles, , thus providing feasible and effective manufacturing techniques for low cost and mass production.…”