Self-powered flexible piezoelectric sensor based on PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃ nanofibers for impact force monitoring and rubber mat aging assessment

Abstract

In this work, a flexible piezoelectric sensor was fabricated based on PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3(PZT) nanofibers composite, and its potential applications in impact force monitoring and rubber mat aging assessment were reported. The PZT piezoelectric nanofibers with diameters of 150–260nm were prepared via electrospinning technique, showing a high piezoelectric coefficient (d33~92.5 pm/V) for piezoelectric fibers. The PZT nanofibers and carbon nanotubes(CNTs) were dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to fabricate a highly stretchable and flexible impact sensor (PZT/CNTs/PDMS piezoelectric nanocomposite sensor), which showed excellent low frequency sensitivity(as low as 0.01Hz), high bending deformation sensitivity (as low as 0.192cm-1 curvature deformation with 6.64V/cm-1 sensitivity) and cycle stability under external impact force. Besides, it is the first attempt to assess railway tracks rubber mat aging based on piezoelectric nanocomposite impact sensor, and the static stiffness relative error reaches a low value of 6.91% .