An electrospun PVDF-TrFe fiber sensor platform for biological applications

Flexible, self-powered materials are in demand for a multitude of applications such as energy harvesting, robotic devices, and lab-on-a chip medical diagnostics. Electrospinning piezoelectric fluoropolymers into nanofibers can provide these functionalities in a facile method. PVDF-TrFe was electrospun in an aligned format and interfaced with a flexible plastic substrate in order to create a platform for voltage response characterization after small force cantilever deformations. Voltage peak signals were an average of ±0.4 V, and this response did not change after platform sterilization. However, when placed in cell culture media, piezoelectric response was dampened. This platform can be used for measurement and analysis of electromechanical behavior in a variety of applications, including cellular-powered nanodevices.