Title: Film formation and characterisation of PVDF piezoelectric polymer thin film by spray coating and its application to helical spring

Authors: Hiroki Takise; Masato Suzuki; Tomokazu Takahashi; Seiji Aoyagi

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kansai University, Suita, Osaka, 564-8680, Japan ' Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kansai University, Suita, Osaka, 564-8680, Japan ' Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kansai University, Suita, Osaka, 564-8680, Japan ' Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kansai University, Suita, Osaka, 564-8680, Japan

Abstract: Poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) thin film was formed by spray coating method. This method is suitable for fabricating a uniform thin film on a three-dimensional (3D) surface, even if it is complicatedly curved. PVDF is compatible with spray coating because it can be dissolved in an organic solvent. In previous study, we formed PVDF film by bar-coating method, which can deposit PVDF onto substrate by expanding it using a roller bar. However, this method limits coating targets to only flat substrates. In this study, spray coating was carried out to form PVDF film on a 3D surface. After coating, mechanical and piezoelectric properties of PVDF film were characterised. As a result, good mechanical and piezoelectric properties were confirmed. Power-generating element was fabricated using PVDF thin film spray-coated on a 3D helical spring and output voltage was obtained by compressing it.

Keywords: piezoelectric polymer; PVDF; energy harvester; power generation; spray coating; helical spring.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2018.099930

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2018 Vol.15 No.11/12, pp.900 - 913

Published online: 28 May 2019 *

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