Ultra‑High Sensitivity Anisotropic Piezoelectric Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring and Robotic Perception

Monitoring minuscule mechanical signals,both in magnitude and direction,is imperative in many application scenarios,e.g.,structural health monitoring and robotic sensing systems.However,the piezoelectric sensor struggles to satisfy the requirements for directional recognition due to the limited piezoelectric coefficient matrix,and achieving sensitivity for detecting micrometer-scale deformations is also challenging.Herein,we develop a vector sensor composed of lead zirconate titanate-electronic grade glass fiber composite filaments with oriented arrangement,capable of detecting minute anisotropic deformations.The as-prepared vector sensor can identify the deformation directions even when subjected to an unprecedented nominal strain of 0.06%,thereby enabling its utility in accurately discerning the 5μm-height wrinkles in thin films and in monitoring human pulse waves.The ultra-high sensitivity is attributed to the formation of porous ferroelectret and the efficient load transfer efficiency of continuous lead zirconate titanate phase.Additionally,when integrated with machine learning techniques,the sensor’s capability to recognize multi-signals enables it to differentiate between 10 types of fine textures with 100%accuracy.The structural design in piezoelectric devices enables a more comprehensive perception of mechanical stimuli,offering a novel perspective for enhancing recognition accuracy.

Recent advances of ferro-/piezoelectric polarization effect for dendrite-free metal anodes

Metal anodes based on plating/stripping electrochemistry,for instance,common alkaline metal lithium(Li),sodium(Na),potassium(K),polyvalent metal magnesium(Mg),aluminum(Al),calcium(Ca)and zinc(Zn)are imminently evoked and increasingly researched for future generation high-energy-density rechargeable batteries due to their large theoretical capacity,low electrochemical potential,and superior electronic conductivity in recent years.However,the uncontrolled dendrite formation issue induces low Coulombic efficiency,short lifespan,and hazardous security risks,hindering the actual applications of metal batteries.Among various solutions,the utilization of ferro-/piezoelectric materials for metal anodes displays active effects on decreasing local current density,suppressing dendrite growth,and tolerating volume expansion benefits from the unique ferro-/piezoelectric polarization effect.This review presents the research progress of ferro-/piezoelectric polarization effect for regulating the dendritic growth of metal anodes for the first time.First,the current challenges and strategies of metal anodes are proposed.Then,ferro-/piezoelectric materials and their working principle are discussed.Finally,the recent research progress of ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials on dynamic regulation of dendrite growth is summarized,and the future perspectives are prospected.We hope this review could draw more attention in designing metal anodes with self-polarization materials and promoting their practical applications.

Analysis of piezoelectric semiconductor fibers under gradient temperature changes

Piezoelectric semiconductors(PSs)possess both semiconducting properties and piezoelectric coupling effects,making them optimal building blocks for semiconductor devices.PS fiber-like structures have wide applications in multi-functional semiconductor devices.In this paper,a one-dimensional(1D)theoretical model is established to describe the piezotronic responses of a PS fiber under gradient temperature changes.The theoretical model aims to explain the mechanism behind the resistance change caused by such gradient temperature changes.Numerical results demonstrate that a gradient temperature change significantly affects the physical fields within the PS fiber,and can induce changes in its surface resistance.It provides important theoretical guidance on the development of piezotronic devices that are sensitive to temperature effects.

Dynamic and electrical responses of a curved sandwich beam with glass reinforced laminate layers and a pliable core in the presence of a piezoelectric layer under low-velocity impact

The dynamic responses and generated voltage in a curved sandwich beam with glass reinforced laminate(GRL)layers and a pliable core in the presence of a piezoelectric layer under low-velocity impact(LVI)are investigated.The current study aims to carry out a dynamic analysis on the sandwich beam when the impactor hits the top face sheet with an initial velocity.For the layer analysis,the high-order shear deformation theory(HSDT)and Frostig's second model for the displacement fields of the core layer are used.The classical non-adhesive elastic contact theory and Hunter's principle are used to calculate the dynamic responses in terms of time.In order to validate the analytical method,the outcomes of the current investigation are compared with those gained by the experimental tests carried out by other researchers for a rectangular composite plate subject to the LVI.Finite element(FE)simulations are conducted by means of the ABAQUS software.The effects of the parameters such as foam modulus,layer material,fiber angle,impactor mass,and its velocity on the generated voltage are reviewed.

Progress in the research on organic piezoelectric catalysts for dye decomposition

Organic contaminants have posed a direct and substantial risk to human wellness and the environment.In recent years,piezo-electric catalysis has evolved as a novel and effective method for decomposing these contaminants.Although piezoelectric materials offer a wide range of options,most related studies thus far have focused on inorganic materials and have paid little attention to organic materi-als.Organic materials have advantages,such as being lightweight,inexpensive,and easy to process,over inorganic materials.Therefore,this paper provides a comprehensive review of the progress made in the research on piezoelectric catalysis using organic materials,high-lighting their catalytic efficiency in addressing various pollutants.In addition,the applications of organic materials in piezoelectric cata-lysis for water decomposition to produce hydrogen,disinfect bacteria,treat tumors,and reduce carbon dioxide are presented.Finally,fu-ture developmental trends regarding the piezoelectric catalytic potential of organic materials are explored.

Enhanced ferro-/piezoelectric properties of tape-casting-derived Er^(3+)-doped Ba_(0.85)Ca_(0.15)Ti_(0.9)Zr_(0.1O3) optoelectronic thick films

Er^(3+)-doped Ba_(0.85)Ca_(0.15)Ti_(0.9)Zr_(0.1O3)(xEr-BCTZ,x=0,0.005,0.01,0.015)multifunctional thick films were prepared by the tape-casting method,using sol-gel-derived nano-sized powders as the matrix material.The surface morphologies,photoluminescence,and electrical properties were investigated.Dense microstructures with pure perovskite structure were obtained in the thick films.By doping an appropriate amount of Er^(3+),the samples exhibit superior up-conversion photoluminescence performance and simultaneously enhanced electrical performances.In addition,relatively higher texture fractions(with the largest value of 83.5%)were realized through introducing plate-like BaTiO_(3) templates to make the thick film grow by the[001]_(c) orientation.And the ferro-/piezoelectric properties of the thick films were further improved,showing potential in the applications of micro-optoelectronic devices.

Piezoelectric-enhanced n-TiO_(2)/BaTiO_(3)/p-TiO_(2) heterojunction for highly efficient photoelectrocatalysis

Charge separation is critical for achieving efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion,whereas piezoelectric-enhanced photoelectrochemical(PEC)systems can effectively modulate band bending and charge migration.Herein,we design an n-TiO_(2)/Ba TiO_(3)/p-TiO_(2)(TBTm)heterojunction in which the piezoelectric Ba TiO_(3) layer is sandwiched between n-TiO_(2)and p-TiO_(2).The built-in electric field of TBTm can provide a strong driving force to accelerate carrier separation and prolong carrier lifetime.Consequently,the TBT3 achieves a prominent photocurrent density,as high as 2.13 m A cm^(-2)at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),which is 2.4-and 1.5-times higher than TiO_(2) and TiO_(2)–Ba TiO_(3) heterojunction,respectively.Driven by mechanical deformation,the induced dipole polarization can further regulate built-in electric fields,and the piezoelectric photocurrent density of TBT3-800 is 2.84 times higher than TiO_(2) at 1.23 V vs.RHE due to the construction of piezoelectric-heterostructures.This work provides a piezoelectric polarization strategy for modulating the built-in electric field of heterojunction for PEC system.

Piezoelectric fibers based on silk fibroin with excellent output performance

The self-powered tissue engineering scaffold with good biocompatibility is of great significance for stimulating nerve cell growth.In this study,silk fibroin(SF)-based fibers with regulatable structure and piezoelectric performance are fabricated by dry-spinning and post-treatment.The concentration of SF and calcium ion in spinning dope and the post-treatment affect the conformation transition and crystallinity of SF.As a result,the SF fibers exhibit high piezoelectric coefficient d_(33)(3.24 pm/V)and output voltage(~27 V).Furthermore,these piezoelectric fibers promote the growth of PC-12 cells,demonstrating the promising potential for nerve repair and other energy harvester.

The marriage of immunomodulatory,angiogenic,and osteogenic capabilities in a piezoelectric hydrogel tissue engineering scafold for military medicine

Background:Most bone-related injuries to grassroots troops are caused by training or accidental injuries.To establish preventive measures to reduce all kinds of trauma and improve the combat effectiveness of grassroots troops,it is imperative to develop new strategies and scafolds to promote bone regeneration.Methods:In this study,a porous piezoelectric hydrogel bone scafold was fabricated by incorporating polydopamine(PDA)-modified ceramic hydroxyapatite(PDA-hydroxyapatite,PHA)and PDA-modified barium titanate(PDABaTiO_(3),PBT)nanoparticles into a chitosan/gelatin(Cs/Gel)matrix.The physical and chemical properties of the Cs/Gel/PHA scafold with 0–10 wt%PBT were analyzed.Cell and animal experiments were performed to characterize the immunomodulatory,angiogenic,and osteogenic capabilities of the piezoelectric hydrogel scafold in vitro and in vivo.Results:The incorporation of BaTiO_(3) into the scafold improved its mechanical properties and increased self-generated electricity.Due to their endogenous piezoelectric stimulation and bioactive constituents,the prepared Cs/Gel/PHA/PBT hydrogels exhibited cytocompatibility as well as immunomodulatory,angiogenic,and osteogenic capabilities;they not only effectively induced macrophage polarization to M2 phenotype but also promoted the migration,tube formation,and angiogenic differentiation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)and facilitated the migration,osteodifferentiation,and extracellular matrix(ECM)mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells.The in vivo evaluations showed that these piezoelectric hydrogels with versatile capabilities significantly facilitated new bone formation in a rat large-sized cranial injury model.The underlying molecular mechanism can be partly attributed to the immunomodulation of the Cs/Gel/PHA/PBT hydrogels as shown via transcriptome sequencing analysis,and the PI3K/Akt signaling axis plays an important role in regulating macrophage M2 polarization.Conclusion:The piezoelectric Cs/Gel/PHA/PBT hydrogels developed here with favorable immunomodulation,angiogenesis,and osteogenesis functions may be used as a substitute in periosteum injuries,thereby offering the novel strategy of applying piezoelectric stimulation in bone tissue engineering for the enhancement of combat efectiveness in grassroots troops.

Feedback linearization and equivalent-disturbance compensation control strategy for piezoelectric stage

Piezoelectric stages use piezoelectric actuators and flexure hinges as driving and amplifying mechanisms,respectively.These systems have high positioning accuracy and high-frequency responses,and they are widely used in various precision/ultra-precision positioning fields.However,the main challenge with these devices is the inherent hysteresis nonlinearity of piezoelectric actuators,which seriously affects the tracking accuracy of a piezoelectric stage.Inspired by this challenge,in this work,we developed a Hammerstein model to describe the hysteresis nonlinearity of a piezoelectric stage.In particular,in our proposed scheme,a feedback-linearization algorithm is used to eliminate the static hysteresis nonlinearity.In addition,a composite controller based on equivalent-disturbance compensation was designed to counteract model uncertainties and external disturbances.An analysis of the stability of a closed-loop system based on this feedback-linearization algorithm and composite controller was performed,and this was followed by extensive comparative experiments using a piezoelectric stage developed in the laboratory.The experimental results confirmed that the feedback-linearization algorithm and the composite controller offer improved linearization and trajectory-tracking performance.

A Single-Layer Piezoelectric Composite Separator for Durable Operation of Li Metal Anode at High Rates

Piezoelectric ceramic and polymeric separators have been proposed to effectively regulate Li deposition and suppress dendrite growth,but such separators still fail to satisfactorily support durable operation of lithium metal batteries owing to the fragile ceramic layer or low-piezoelectricity polymer as employed.Herein,by combining PVDF-HFP and ferroelectric BaTiO_(3),we develop a homogeneous,single-layer composite separator with strong piezoelectric effects to inhibit dendrite growth while maintaining high mechanical strength.As squeezed by local protrusion,the polarized PVDF-HFP/BaTiO_(3)composite separator generates a local voltage to suppress the local-intensified electric field and further deconcentrate regional lithium-ion flux to retard lithium deposition on the protrusion,hence enabling a smoother and more compact lithium deposition morphology than the unpoled composite separator and the pure PVDF-HFP separator,especially at high rates.Remarkably,the homogeneous incorporation of BaTiO_(3)highly improves the piezoelectric performances of the separator with residual polarization of 0.086 pC cm^(-2)after polarization treatment,four times that of the pure PVDF-HFP separator,and simultaneously increases the transference number of lithium-ion from 0.45 to 0.57.Beneficial from the prominent piezoelectric mechanism,the polarized PVDF-HFP/BaTiO_(3)composite separator enables stable cyclic performances of Li||LiFePO_(4)cells for 400 cycles at 2 C(1 C=170 mA g^(-1))with a capacity retention above 99%,and for 600 cycles at 5 C with a capacity retention over 85%.

Fourth-order phase-field modeling for brittle fracture in piezoelectric materials

Failure analyses of piezoelectric structures and devices are of engineering and scientific significance.In this paper,a fourth-order phase-field fracture model for piezoelectric solids is developed based on the Hamilton principle.Three typical electric boundary conditions are involved in the present model to characterize the fracture behaviors in various physical situations.A staggered algorithm is used to simulate the crack propagation.The polynomial splines over hierarchical T-meshes(PHT-splines)are adopted as the basis function,which owns the C1continuity.Systematic numerical simulations are performed to study the influence of the electric boundary conditions and the applied electric field on the fracture behaviors of piezoelectric materials.The electric boundary conditions may influence crack paths and fracture loads significantly.The present research may be helpful for the reliability evaluation of the piezoelectric structure in the future applications.

Analytical modeling of piezoelectric meta-beams with unidirectional circuit for broadband vibration attenuation

Broadband vibration attenuation is a challenging task in engineering since it is difficult to achieve low-frequency and broadband vibration control simultaneously.To solve this problem,this paper designs a piezoelectric meta-beam with unidirectional electric circuits,exhibiting promising broadband attenuation capabilities.An analytical model in a closed form for achieving the solution of unidirectional vibration transmission of the designed meta-beam is developed based on the state-space transfer function method.The method can analyze the forward and backward vibration transmission of the piezoelectric meta-beam in a unified manner,providing reliable dynamics solutions of the beam.The analytical results indicate that the meta-beam effectively reduces the unidirectional vibration across a broad low-frequency range,which is also verified by the solutions obtained from finite element analyses.The designed meta-beam and the proposed analytical method facilitate a comprehensive investigation into the distinctive unidirectional transmission behavior and superb broadband vibration attenuation performance.

Love wave propagation in one-dimensional piezoelectric quasicrystal multilayered nanoplates with surface effects

The exact solutions for the propagation of Love waves in one-dimensional(1D)hexagonal piezoelectric quasicrystal(PQC)nanoplates with surface effects are derived.An electro-elastic model is developed to investigate the anti-plane strain problem of Love wave propagation.By introducing three shape functions,the wave equations and electric balance equations are decoupled into three uncorrelated problems.Satisfying the boundary conditions of the top surface on the covering layer,the interlayer interface,and the matrix,a dispersive equation with the influence of multi-physical field coupling is provided.A surface PQC model is developed to investigate the surface effects on the propagation behaviors of Love waves in quasicrystal(QC)multilayered structures with nanoscale thicknesses.A novel dispersion relation for the PQC structure is derived in an explicit closed form according to the non-classical mechanical and electric boundary conditions.Numerical examples are given to reveal the effects of the boundary conditions,stacking sequence,characteristic scale,and phason fluctuation characteristics on the dispersion curves of Love waves propagating in PQC nanoplates with surface effects.

Natural frequency analysis of laminated piezoelectric beams with arbitrary polarization directions

Piezoelectric devices exhibit unique properties that vary with different vibration modes,closely influenced by their polarization direction.This paper presents an analysis on the free vibration of laminated piezoelectric beams with varying polarization directions,using a state-space-based differential quadrature method.First,based on the electro-elasticity theory,the state-space method is extended to anisotropic piezoelectric materials,establishing state-space equations for arbitrary polarized piezoelectric beams.A semi-analytical solution for the natural frequency is then obtained via the differential quadrature method.The study commences by examining the impact of a uniform polarization direction,and then proceeds to analyze six polarization schemes relevant to the current research and applications.Additionally,the effects of geometric dimensions and gradient index on the natural frequencies are explored.The numerical results demonstrate that varying the polarization direction can significantly influence the natural frequencies,offering distinct advantages for piezoelectric elements with different polarizations.This research provides both theoretical insights and numerical methods for the structural design of piezoelectric devices.

Improvement of the piezoelectricity of PVDF-HFP by CoFe_(2)O_(4)nanoparticles

High piezoelectric composite films composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)(PVDF-HFP)and ferromagnetic cobalt ferrite(CoFe_(2)O_(4))(0.00 wt%to 0.2 wt%)are prepared by a solution casting method accompanied by uniaxial stretching and high electric field poling.The decisive effect of the poling electric field on the power generating capability was confirmed by the experiments.For pure PVDF-HFP films,when the maximum electric field Emax is 120 MV/m,the calibrated open circuit voltage reaches 2.93 V,which is much higher than those poled at lower electric fields(70 MV/m:1.41 V;90 MV/m:2.11 V).Furthermore,the addition of CoFe_(2)O_(4)also influences the piezoelectricity dramatically.In the samples containing 0.15 wt%CoFe_(2)O_(4),the calibrated open circuit voltage increases to the maximum value of 3.57 V.Meanwhile,the relative fraction of theβ-phase and the crystallinity degree are 99%and 48%,respectively.The effects of CoFe_(2)O_(4)nanoparticles on initial crystallization,uniaxial stretching and high electric field poling are investigated by XRD,FTIR and DSC.

Indentation behavior of a semi-infinite piezoelectric semiconductor under a rigid flat-ended cylindrical indenter

This paper theoretically studies the axisymmetric frictionless indentation of a transversely isotropic piezoelectric semiconductor(PSC)half-space subject to a rigid flatended cylindrical indenter.The contact area and other surface of the PSC half-space are assumed to be electrically insulating.By the Hankel integral transformation,the problem is reduced to the Fredholm integral equation of the second kind.This equation is solved numerically to obtain the indentation behaviors of the PSC half-space,mainly including the indentation force-depth relation and the electric potential-depth relation.The results show that the effect of the semiconductor property on the indentation responses is limited within a certain range of variation of the steady carrier concentration.The dependence of indentation behavior on material properties is also analyzed by two different kinds of PSCs.Finite element simulations are conducted to verify the results calculated by the integral equation technique,and good agreement is demonstrated.

An Effective Meshless Approach for Inverse Cauchy Problems in 2D and 3D Electroelastic Piezoelectric Structures

In the past decade,notable progress has been achieved in the development of the generalized finite difference method(GFDM).The underlying principle of GFDM involves dividing the domain into multiple sub-domains.Within each sub-domain,explicit formulas for the necessary partial derivatives of the partial differential equations(PDEs)can be obtained through the application of Taylor series expansion and moving-least square approximation methods.Consequently,the method generates a sparse coefficient matrix,exhibiting a banded structure,making it highly advantageous for large-scale engineering computations.In this study,we present the application of the GFDM to numerically solve inverse Cauchy problems in two-and three-dimensional piezoelectric structures.Through our preliminary numerical experiments,we demonstrate that the proposed GFDMapproach shows great promise for accurately simulating coupled electroelastic equations in inverse problems,even with 3%errors added to the input data.

A Hybrid Compensation Scheme for the Input Rate-Dependent Hysteresis of the Piezoelectric Ceramic Actuators

A hybrid compensation scheme for piezoelectric ceramic actuators(PEAs)is proposed.In the hybrid compensation scheme,the input rate-dependent hysteresis characteristics of the PEAs are compensated.The feedforward controller is a novel input rate-dependent neural network hysteresis inverse model,while the feedback controller is a proportion integration differentiation(PID)controller.In the proposed inverse model,an input ratedependent auxiliary inverse operator(RAIO)and output of the hysteresis construct the expanded input space(EIS)of the inverse model which transforms the hysteresis inverse with multi-valued mapping into single-valued mapping,and the wiping-out,rate-dependent and continuous properties of the RAIO are analyzed in theories.Based on the EIS method,a hysteresis neural network inverse model,namely the dynamic back propagation neural network(DBPNN)model,is established.Moreover,a hybrid compensation scheme for the PEAs is designed to compensate for the hysteresis.Finally,the proposed method,the conventional PID controller and the hybrid controller with the modified input rate-dependent Prandtl-Ishlinskii(MRPI)model are all applied in the experimental platform.Experimental results show that the proposed method has obvious superiorities in the performance of the system.

Design and micromanufacturing technologies of focused piezoelectric ultrasound transducers for biomedical applications

Piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers have shown great potential in biomedical applications due to their high acoustic-to-electric conversion efficiency and large power capacity.The focusing technique enables the transducer to produce an extremely narrow beam,greatly improving the resolution and sensitivity.In this work,we summarize the fundamental properties and biological effects of the ultrasound field,aiming to establish a correlation between device design and application.Focusing techniques for piezoelectric transducers are highlighted,including material selection and fabrication methods,which determine the final performance of piezoelectric transducers.Numerous examples,from ultrasound imaging,neuromodulation,tumor ablation to ultrasonic wireless energy transfer,are summarized to highlight the great promise of biomedical applications.Finally,the challenges and opportunities of focused ultrasound transducers are presented.The aim of this review is to bridge the gap between focused ultrasound systems and biomedical applications.