PbTiO₃ – P(VDF-TrFE) – Nanocomposites for Pressure and Temperature Sensitive Skin

Abstract

Nanocomposites of a ferroelectric matrix polymer with dispersed ferroelectric ceramic nanoparticles can be polarized to be piezo- or pyroelectric alone at a given temperature, due to the different origin of piezoelectricity in polymers (dipole density) and ceramics (intrinsic). With a two-step poling procedure, which allows selective poling of the ceramic inclusion and the ferroelectric polymer, bifunctionality is achieved in the same material. The selective poling of filler and matrix phase is proved by ferroelectric hysteresis measurements at room temperature. Such bifunctional materials may be interesting for artificial skin, sensitive to changes in pressure and temperature.

Keywords:

• Nanocomposites
• ferroelectricity
• flexible electronics

Acknowledgments

Work partially supported by the European Union (3Plast) and by the Austrian Science Funds (S9712-N08). The authors are grateful to Dr. Stephanie Lacour, University of Cambridge and Prof. Dr. Sigurd Wagner, Princeton University for many stimulating discussions.