2D circular-shaped sensor of poly (vinylidene fluoride) piezoelectric fibers fabricated through near-field direct-write electrospinning

This study presented an innovative concept to develop a home-made equipment to make a 2D circular-shaped polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fiber piezoelectric sensor. The fibers spun by direct-write near-field electrospinning can be collected orderly to enhance the orientation of dipole moments and the piezoelectric effect. The electrospinning system mainly consists of a high voltage power supply system, a digitally controlled [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] table, a solution injection system, and a rotating flat disc collector system. PVDF piezoelectric fibers were spun for the sensing element of the sensor with a diameter of [Formula: see text]16 [Formula: see text]m under a high electric field ([Formula: see text] V/m). The optimal parameters of electrospinning process were investigated and determined by the uniform design (UD) method in terms of the working high voltage, feeding rate, and gap distance between the needle and collector. In addition, a prototype of this newly designed rotating flat disc collector system was utilized to make 2D circular-shaped PVDF piezoelectric fibers. Besides, the newly-designed radial electrodes were used to characterize multi-directional sensing ability. The 2D circular-shaped fibers were then packaged with this radial electrodes and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film together to measure the dynamic behavior characteristics.