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.

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.

One-step and Continuous Fabrication of Coaxial Piezoelectric Fiber for Sensing Application

Although there has been rapid advancement in piezoelectric sensors,challenges still remain in developing wearable piezoelectric sensors by a one-step,continuous and environmentally friendly method.In this work,a 1D flexible coaxial piezoelectric fiber was directly fabricated by melt extrusion molding,whose core and sheath layer are respectively slender steel wire(i.e.,electrode)and PVDF(i.e.,piezoelectric layer).Moreover,such 1D flexible coaxial piezoelectric fiber possesses short response time and high sensitivity,which can be used as a selfpowered sensor for bending and vibration sensing.More interestingly,such 1D flexible coaxial piezoelectric fiber(1D-PFs)can be further endowed with 3D helical structure.Moreover,a wearable and washable motion monitoring system can be constructed via braiding such 3D helical piezoelectric fiber(3D-PF)into commercial textiles.This work paves a new way for developing 1D and 3D piezoelectric fibers through a one-step,continuous and environmentally friendly method,showing potential applications in the field of sensing and wearable electronics.

Application of piezoelectric fiber composite actuator to aircraft wing for aerodynamic performance improvement

The application of actuator made of piezoelectric material,particularly the advanced piezoelectric fiber composite due to the rapid development of smart materials and structures and active control technology in aviation and aerospace industry,to aircraft for performance enhancements such as flight control,aerodynamic force optimization,structure weight reduction,and overall aircraft design represents a new challenge to researches.It is considered as one of the key technologies for developing future flight vehicle.An approach with virtual control surface instead of conventional control surface to control aerodynamic force distribution and flight performance by use of piezoelectric fiber composite actuators distributed on wing surface is presented here.Particularly,the design and implementation of increasing lift force,providing roll maneuver,decreasing induced drag and wing root moment in different flight environments by the same structure control platform are studied.The control effect and sensitivity are examined quantitatively.Generally speaking,better control effect can be obtained by making better use of aeroelastic character to enlarge the actuation strain produced by piezoelectric material.

Application of the homotopy analysis method to nonlinear characteristics of a piezoelectric semiconductor fiber

Based on the nonlinear constitutive equation,a piezoelectric semiconductor(PSC)fiber under axial loads and Ohmic contact boundary conditions is investigated.The analytical solutions of electromechanical fields are derived by the homotopy analysis method(HAM),indicating that the HAM is efficient for the nonlinear analysis of PSC fibers,along with a rapid rate of convergence.Furthermore,the nonlinear characteristics of electromechanical fields are discussed through numerical results.It is shown that the asymmetrical distribution of electromechanical fields is obvious under a symmetrical load,and the piezoelectric effect is weakened by an applied electric field.With the increase in the initial carrier concentration,the electric potential decreases,and owing to the screen-ing effect of electrons,the distribution of electromechanical fields tends to be symmetrical.

Design and Fabrication of a Multi-electrode Metal-core Piezoelectric Fiber and Its Application as an Airflow Sensor

Crickets, similar to some other insects, have highly sensitive filiform hairs on their cerci that can detect miniscule changes in airflow. This study imitates the perception mechanism of these filiform sensory hairs of crickets by designing and fabricating a Multi-electrode Metal Core Piezoelectric Fiber （MMPF）-based airflow sensor. Four longitudinal conductive sheets were coated symmetrically on their surfaces with Metal-core Piezoceramic Fibers （MPF）. The four fan-shaped piezoelectric ceramics with surface electrode covers were polarized. After successful polarization, the cantilevered MMPF could be used as an airflow sensor. The four electrodes on the surface were symmetrically divided into two groups. Therefore, two signals can be produced by a single fiber sensor. The theoretical model of an MMPF airflow sensor has been established. The model indicates that the ratio of the two signals is equivalent to the tangent of the airflow angle. Furthermore, the sum of the squares of the two signals is not dependent on the angle, but reflects the velocity of the airflow. Therefore, a single MMPF can be used to measure both the direction and amplitude for a given airflow. The theoretical model has been confirmed via experimental measurements.

Advanced Fiber Materials for Wearable Electronics

Fiber materials are highly desirable for wearable electronics that are expected to be flexible and stretchable.Compared with rigid and planar electronic devices,fiber-based wearable electronics provide significant advantages in terms of flexibility,stretchability and breathability,and they are considered as the pioneers in the new generation of soft wearables.The con-vergence of textile science,electronic engineering and nanotechnology has made it feasible to build electronic functions on fibers and maintain them during wear.Over the last few years,fiber-shaped wearable electronics with desired designability and integration features have been intensively explored and developed.As an indispensable part and cornerstone of flexible wearable devices,fibers are of great significance.Herein,the research progress of advanced fiber materials is reviewed,which mainly includes various material preparations,fabrication technologies and representative studies on different wearable applications.Finally,key challenges and future directions of fiber materials and wearable electronics are examined along with an analysis of possible solutions.