posted on 2021-02-04, 14:03authored byXinping Hu, Yaping Che, Zijie Zhang, Qun-Dong Shen, Baojin Chu
Multifunctional
materials which generate response under different
stimuli are important for sensor and actuator applications. In this
work, to achieve multifunctional materials, the composites of P(VDF-TrFE)
ferroelectric polymer and BiFeO3–BaTiO3 nanofibers are designed in an attempt to exploit the ferroelectric
properties of the polymer and the ferromagnetism and the optical response
of the nanofibers. The addition of nanofibers not only improves the
dielectric, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric properties of the polymer
but also creates multiple functionalities, which include ferromagnetism,
magnetoelectric effect, photothermal effect, photostriction, and photo-electric
response. The functionalities are either from the properties of the
nanofibers or the coupling effect of the physical properties between
the fibers and the polymer. As a result, one single material can detect
mechanical, magnetic, and optical signals and generate actuation by
electrical and optical stimuli. The composite materials are promising
for sensor and actuator applications to improve compactness and efficiency
of the devices because of their multifunctionality. Because of high
flexibility and mechanical reliability, the nanocomposites are also
expected to be applied in flexible or wearable electronic devices.