Single flexible nanofibers to achieve simultaneous construction of piezoelectric elements and nanoresistance networks for tiny force sensing

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. 2021-12, Vol.332, p.113203, Article 113203
• Main Authors: Jiang, Wenbo, Hu, Kongsen, Lv, Nan, Lyu, Zhiwei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesion; Biosensors; Electrodes; Electrospinning; Miniaturization; Nanofibers; Nanoresistance network; Networks; Neural networks; Piezoelectric sensor; Piezoelectricity; Sensitivity; Sensors; Simultaneous construction; Wheatstone bridge; Wheatstone bridges
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2021.113203

•Synchronous construction of piezoelectric elements and nanoresistance networks.•Single piezoelectric-conductive PAN/PANI/PVP NFs was realized by electrospinning.•Output voltage by nanoresistance network based on Wheatstone bridge principle.•INFM shows high linear sensitivity (667 mV N−1) down to 0.05 N.•A simple route to construct integrated high-sensitivity sensing nanomaterials. [Display omitted] Existing piezoelectric sensing materials usually rely on top and bottom planar electrodes to achieve the assembly of piezoelectric sensors, restricting their application due to the limitation of flexibility and miniaturization as well as time-consuming and costly multi-steps preparation. Here, we report a simple strategy to synchronously construct piezoelectric elements and nanoresistance networks via fabricating single PAN/PANI/PVP piezoelectric-conductive nanofibers (NFs) by electrospinning. By virtue of PAN as piezoelectric elements and PANI/PVP as nanoresistance networks, the flexible PAN/PANI/PVP piezoelectric-conductive NFs as an integrated sensing system can timely collect and output voltage based on Wheatstone bridge principle. The pressure sensing potential of flexible PAN/PANI/PVP integrated nanofibers membrane (INFM) is systematically explored and evaluated. The valid contact and adhesion of piezoelectric elements and nanoresistance networks improve effective polarization and collection of induced charges, enhancing piezoelectric output performance. Moreover, it enables the INFM to perceive tiny force with high-precision sensitivity (667 mV N−1) down to approximately 0.05 N while retaining a linear relationship. Thus, our research opens a simple route to design integrated sensing materials with nanoscale, high-sensitivity, lightweight and low-cost, making them attractive candidates in the potential application in micro-/nanoscale sensors and wearable electronics.