Significantly Enhanced Poling Efficiency of Piezocomposites by Tuning Resistivity of a Polymer Matrix

Abstract

Although the ability to convert biomechanical vibrations into electric energy has been demonstrated in organic−inorganic piezocomposites, it is challenging to improve their piezoelectric properties owing to insufficient electric field poling. Here, we propose a facile and effective approach to enhance the poling efficiency of a barium calcium zirconate titanate/polydimethylsiloxane (BCZT/PDMS) composite by introducing copper nanowires (Cu NWs) to tune the resistivity of the PDMS matrix. The Cu NW-modified PDMS weakens the resistivity mismatch between the BCZT filler and the PDMS matrix, allowing a higher poling electric field to be applied to the BCZT filler during poling. As a result, the BCZT/Cu-PDMS piezocomposite exhibited a high piezoelectric quality factor (d 33 × g 33 ) of 2.58 pm 2 /N, which was about 7 times higher than that of BCZT/PDMS (d 33 × g 33 = 0.38 pm 2 /N). Moreover, BCZT/Cu-PDMS showed a much higher power density (3.18 μW/cm 2 ) and a faster charging capability. This composite approach of introducing metal nanowires can be considered as a generic poling-improvement method that can be extended to other organic−inorganic piezocomposite systems.

3D Printing of Flexible BaTiO3/Polydimethylsiloxane Piezocomposite with Aligned Particles for Enhanced Energy Harvesting

“…The energy harvesting ability of piezoelectric devices mainly depends on the piezoelectric material type, structural design, and fabrication technology. Piezoelectric composites, which are prepared by embedding piezoelectric ceramics into a polymer matrix, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), manifest excellent energy-harvesting performances. − For example, flexible BaTiO 3 /PDMS composites, which are prepared by dispersing BaTiO 3 nanoparticles into the PDMS matrix, have a high energy-harvesting capacity; however, the agglomeration of BaTiO 3 particles inevitably deteriorates their piezoelectric performance. To achieve a homogeneous particle distribution in piezoelectric composites, ball milling technology is generally used.…”