Affiliation:
1. Department of Frontier Sciences for Advanced Environment Graduate School of Environmental Studies Tohoku University Sendai 980‐8579 Japan
2. Department of Mechanical Engineering Osaka Institute of Technology Osaka 535‐8585 Japan
Abstract
AbstractPiezoelectric composite materials can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, thus promoting battery‐free motion‐sensing systems. However, their substandard mechanical performance limits the capability of sensors developed using flexible piezoelectric materials. This study introduces a novel design strategy for preparing high‐strength flexible piezoelectric composite materials comprising unidirectional carbon fiber–reinforced potassium sodium niobate (K0.5Na0.5NbO3) nanoparticle–filled epoxy resin (UDCF/KNN–EP). The fibers significantly improve the Young's modulus of UDCF/KNN–EP along the fiber direction, which reaches 282.5 MPa. Moreover, the composite exhibits excellent stretchability and piezoelectric response () in the cross‐fiber direction under cyclic tensile loading. Multiscale finite element analysis is performed via simulation, which allows theoretical examination of the experimental results and the material's mechanical response mechanism. Finally, UDCF/KNN–EP is seamlessly incorporated into athletic gear and used to measure the impact caused by baseball catching and track footfall patterns. This study harnesses the superior strength of carbon fibers to enhance the durability and dependability of self‐powered sensors without compromising flexibility in specific directions.
Funder
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Subject
Biomaterials,Biotechnology,General Materials Science,General Chemistry