Poly (vinylidene fluoride) transducers with highly conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) electrodes

The multifunctional transducers were fabricated by using the piezoelectric poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) film as active layer and the highly conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly (4-styrenesulfonate) [PEDOT/PSS (DMSO for solvent)] as electrode. The PVDF active layers and PEDOT/PSS (DMSO) electrodes were modified by using the ion-assisted-reaction (IAR) method for enhancing adhesion. The piezoelectric effect and pyroelectric effect were observed from the PVDF transducer. The tip displacement of the bimorph type transducer with the PEDOT/PSS (DMSO) electrodes was 7.0 mm at resonance frequency of 27 Hz with applying 40 Vrms. The transducers with PEDOT/PSS (DMSO) electrodes operated in a stable manner at 1 MHz with 200 Vrms, while the transducers with the inorganic ITO and Pt electrodes were mechanically or electrically damaged. The bimorph type generator consisted with the PVDF active layers and PEDOT/PSS (DMSO) electrodes produced a sinusoidal output voltage having a maximum voltage of 0.31 V in response to the tip displacement of 3 mm induced by a vibrator, implying energy harvest system. The maximum output voltage of 4.1 V in the pyroelectric PVDF device was generated with the change of temperature.