Piezoelectric and Dielectric Characterization of MWCNT-Based Nanocomposite Flexible Films

Abstract

PZT-epoxy-multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) flexible thick film actuators were fabricated using a sol-gel and spin coat and deposition process. Films were characterized in terms of their piezoelectric and dielectric properties as a function of MWCNT volume fraction and polarization process. Correlations between surface treatment of the MWCNTs and composite performance were made. The surface morphology and filler distribution were observed with the aid of SEM and TEM images. The volume fraction of PZT was held constant at 30%, and the volume fraction of MWCNTs varied from 1% to 10%. Two forms of dielectric polarization were compared. Corona discharge polarization induced enhanced piezoelectric and dielectric properties by a factor of 10 in comparison to the parallel-plate contact method (piezoelectric strain coefficient and dielectric constant were 0.59 pC/N and 61.81, respectively, for the parallel-plate contact method and 9.22 pC/N and 103.59 for the corona polarization method, respectively). The percolation threshold range was observed to occur at a MWCNT volume fraction range between 5% and 6%.

Polarization Parameters and Scaling Matter—How Processing Environment and Shape Factor Influence Electroactive Nanocomposite Characteristics

“…The film and bulk samples were prepared using the procedure outlined in [113,114]. The PZT filler was pre-processed using the method described in [114] and then mixed with the bisphenol A diglycidyl ether part of the two-part epoxy, and sonicated for four hours.…”

Characterization 0.1 wt.% Nanomaterial/Photopolymer Composites with Poor Nanomaterial Dispersion: Viscosity, Cure Depth and Dielectric Properties

“…The research on thin and flexible two-component 0-3 piezoelectric composites lasts for a few decades. The advantages of the addition of conductive carbon-based nanomaterials to improve piezoelectric properties of so-called 0-0-3 piezoelectric composites were reported by researchers [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The improvement of piezoelectric properties in such composites is achieved by increasing the dielectric properties of the polymer matrix by adding conductive nanomaterials to the matrix.…”

“…The improvement of piezoelectric properties in such composites is achieved by increasing the dielectric properties of the polymer matrix by adding conductive nanomaterials to the matrix. Increased dielectric properties allow one to achieve a higher degree of polarization of piezoelectric particles inside the matrix, and thus higher piezoelectric output [2,3,[5][6][7][8].…”

“…One of the most complex tasks is the dispersion of nanomaterials into a polymer, where the methods and parameters used vary greatly in the literature [1][2][3][4][5][6]. In this study, only 0.1 wt.% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and carbon black (CB) is used.…”

Synthesis and characterization of UV‐curable nanocellulose/ZnO/AlN acrylic flexible films: Thermal, dynamic mechanical and piezoelectric response

“…Furthermore, electrospun polyacrylonitrite (PAN) fibers containing SbSI nanowires were synthesized to build a piezoelectric generator, 13 but the deposition technique was not suitable for microfabrication process scale‐up. Besides, PZT‐epoxy‐multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites were fabricated by keeping constant the volume fraction of PZT and varying MWCNT loading for investigating the piezoelectric response 14 ; Singh et al prepared nanocomposites made of a PVDF Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix filled with BaTiO 3 nanoparticles and studied their piezoelectric behavior 15 . Recently, nanocellulose has gained great interest among the combinations of materials that can be exploited for fabricating nanocomposites 16 .…”