Fabrication and piezoelectric property of PMN-PT nanofibers

Piezoelectric nanostructures have recently attracted attention because of their potentials for nanoscale sensing and energy scavenging. Here we present the fabrication and characterization of novel piezoelectric 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.35PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) nanofibers. PMN-PT nanofibers were fabricated by an electrospinning process combined with subsequent high temperature treatment. The diameter of the nanofibers ranged from 148 nm to 216 nm. Well aligned nanofiber arrays were obtained using an electric field assisted method. A theoretical model was given for measuring piezoelectric properties of nanofibers using Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). The electromechanical coupling coefficient (d33) of single PMN-PT nanofibers was measured and a value of 50±2 pm/V was obtained. The excellent properties of these nanofibers may enable the development of novel piezoelectric nanosensors and nanogerators for sensing and energy harvesting applications.

Piezoelectric nanostructures have recently attracted attention because of their potential for nanoscale sensing and energy scavenging. Here we present the fabrication and characterization of novel piezoelectric 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.35PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) nanofibers. PMN-PT nanofibers were fabricated by an electrospinning process combined with subsequent high temperature treatment. The diameter of the nanofibers ranged from 148 nm to 216 nm. Well aligned nanofiber arrays were obtained using a special collecting scheme. The electromechanical coupling coefficient (d33) was measured as 50±2 pm/V by Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). The excellent properties of these nanofibers may enable the development of novel piezoelectric nanodevices for sensing and energy harvesting applications.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► We fabricated novel PMN-PT nanofibers.
► Piezoelectric property of single PMN-PT nanofiber was measured by PFM.
► The nanofibers show good piezoelectric properties.
► We derived the interaction between the AFM tip and nanofiber during PFM measurement.
► PMN-PT nanofibers were proved to be able to generate electricity under mechanical bending.