Piezoelectric Polymer

Aug. 30, 2024

Researchers from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with scientists from National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune have developed a security alert system based on piezoelectric polymer nanocomposite.

About Piezoelectric Polymers:

These are polymers that can generate electric charges on the surface under pressure/strain thus converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Characteristics
- These polymers have much higher piezoelectric stress constants indicating that they are much better sensors than ceramics.
- They have low dielectric constant, low elastic stiffness, and low density, which result in a high voltage sensitivity and low acoustic and mechanical impedance (crucial for medical and underwater applications).
- Piezoelectric polymeric sensors and actuators offer the advantage of processing flexibility because they are lightweight, tough, readily manufactured into large areas, and can be cut and formed into complex shapes.
- Polymers also typically possess a high dielectric breakdown and high operating field strength, which means that they can withstand much higher driving fields than ceramics.