We describe a piezoelectric polymer composite with thermal stability up to 152 �C, remnant polarization of 3.71 �C/cm2 and maximum polarization to 4.50 �C/cm2. A limiting factor of current piezoelectric polymers such as poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) is high temperature stability, with current materials not able to function above about 100 �C. Conventional P(VDF-TrFE) has 38% lower remnant polarization and 26% lower maximum polarization than our composites, which are also lead free, non-toxic and solution processable�limits of leading ceramic piezoelectric materials. To achieve these metrics, Buckminsterfullerene (C60) nanoparticles were functionalized with diamine (N-R-N) crosslinking chains and composited into a (P(VDF-TrFE)) polymer matrix. The composite was spin-coated into films and thermally cured to covalently attach the amine functionalized C60 onto polymer backbones to form crosslinking �bridges�. Differential scanning calorimetry measurement showed the disappearance of the ferroelectric-paraelectric (F-P) transition peak at 106 �C, indicating retention of the ferroelectric phase until the material melt at 152 �C. The loss of this transition in the composite was confirmed through polarization-electric field hysteresis testing at 115 �C, where the pure polymer (dashed) clearly shows a paraelectric response while the composite (solid) retains its ferroelectric state.These results show promise toward the design of sensors for extreme environments such as structural and pressure sensors in automobiles, and for vibration sensors for machinery supporting oil, gas, mining and manufacturing operations.

Polymer composites for high temperature piezoelectric energy harvesting applications

247th National Meeting (2014)

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