Poly (vinylidene fluoride) transducers with highly conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) electrodes

Abstract

The multifunctional transducers were fabricated by using the piezoelectric poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) film as active layer and the highly conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly (4-styrenesulfonate) [PEDOT/PSS (DMSO for solvent)] as electrode. The PVDF active layers and PEDOT/PSS (DMSO) electrodes were modified by using the ion-assisted-reaction (IAR) method for enhancing adhesion. The piezoelectric effect and pyroelectric effect were observed from the PVDF transducer. The tip displacement of the bimorph type transducer with the PEDOT/PSS (DMSO) electrodes was 7.0 mm at resonance frequency of 27 Hz with applying 40 V rms. The transducers with PEDOT/PSS (DMSO) electrodes operated in a stable manner at 1 MHz with 200 V rms, while the transducers with the inorganic ITO and Pt electrodes were mechanically or electrically damaged. The bimorph type generator consisted with the PVDF active layers and PEDOT/PSS (DMSO) electrodes produced a sinusoidal output voltage having a maximum voltage of 0.31 V in response to the tip displacement of 3 mm induced by a vibrator, implying energy harvest system. The maximum output voltage of 4.1 V in the pyroelectric PVDF device was generated with the change of temperature.