Electromechanical properties of PZT/P(VDF-TrFE) composite ink printed on a flexible organic substrate

The fabrication and electromechanical properties of composite inks consisting of 30–70 vol.% of piezoceramic PZT powder and piezoelectric co-polymer P(VDF-TrFE) are presented. Samples were stencil-printed on a commercial PET film and printable silver ink was used for the electrodes thus allowing a maximum process temperature of 130 °C. The relative permittivity at 1 kHz varied between 33 and 69 depending on poling and composite composition. The highest remanent polarization, up to 4.8 μC/cm2, with 34 MV/m electric field and piezoelectric coefficient d31 up to 17 pm/V, was obtained with a 50 vol.% PZT loading level. The mechanical and electrical results indicate that the developed composite ink enables fully printable and flexible sensor applications with an increased level of integration.