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Relaxor ferroelectric polymer exhibits ultrahigh electromechanical coupling at low electric field

Journal Article · · Science
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [4];  [2];  [2];  [5];  [4];  [6];  [7];  [2];  [1]
  1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
  2. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)
  3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
  4. PolyK Technologies, LLC, State College, PA (United States)
  5. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II
  6. Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)
  7. Arkema-Piezotech (France)

Electromechanical (EM) coupling—the conversion of energy between electric and mechanical forms—in ferroelectrics has been used for a broad range of applications. Ferroelectric polymers have weak EM coupling that severely limits their usefulness for applications. Here, we introduced a small amount of fluorinated alkyne (FA) monomers (<2 mol %) in relaxor ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE-CFE) terpolymer that markedly enhances the polarization change with strong EM coupling while suppressing other polarization changes that do not contribute to it. Under a low–dc bias field of 40 megavolts per meter, the relaxor tetrapolymer has an EM coupling factor (k33) of 88% and a piezoelectric coefficient (d33) >1000 picometers per volt. These values make this solution-processed polymer competitive with ceramic oxide piezoelectrics, with the potential for use in distinct applications.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); National Science Foundation (NSF); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704; AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1889150
Report Number(s):
BNL-223446-2022-JAAM
Journal Information:
Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 6587 Vol. 375; ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher:
AAASCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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