RESUMEN
Challenges such as poor dispersion and insufficient polarization of BaTiO3 (BTO) nanoparticles (NPs) within poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) composites have hindered their piezoelectricity, limiting their uses in pressure sensors, nanogenerators, and artificial sensory synapses. Here, we introduce a high-performance piezoelectric nanocomposite material consisting of P(VDF-TrFE)/modified-BTO (mBTO) NPs for use as a self-activating component in a piezotronic artificial mechanoreceptor. To generate high-performance piezoelectric nanocomposite materials, the surface of BTO is hydroxylated, followed by the covalent attachment of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane to improve the dispersibility of mBTO NPs within the P(VDF-TrFE) matrix. We also aim to enhance the crystallization degree of P(VDF-TrFE), the efficiency characteristics of mBTO, and the poling efficiency, even when incorporating small amounts of mBTO NPs. The piezoelectric potential mechanically induced from the P(VDF-TrFE)/mBTO NPs nanocomposite was three times greater than that from P(VDF-TrFE) and twice as high as that from the P(VDF-TrFE)/BTO NPs nanocomposite. The piezoelectric potential generated by mechanical stimuli on the piezoelectric nanocomposite was utilized to activate the synaptic ionogel-gated field-effect transistor for the development of self-powered piezotronics artificial mechanoreceptors on a polyimide substrate. The device successfully emulated fast-adapting (FA) functions found in biological FA mechanoreceptors. This approach has great potential for applications to future intelligent tactile perception technology.
RESUMEN
Polymeric solid electrolytes have attracted tremendous interest in high-safety and high-energy capacity lithium-sulfur (LiâS) batteries. There is, however, still a dilemma to concurrently attain high Li-ion conductivity and high mechanical strength that effectively suppress the Li-dendrite growth. Accordingly, a rapidly Li-ion conducting solid electrolyte is prepared by grafting pyrrolidinium cation (PYR+)-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) onto the poly(arylene ether sulfone) backbone (PAES-g-2PEGPYR). The PYR+ groups effectively immobilize anions of Li-salts in Li-conductive PEGPYR domains phase-separated from PAES matrix to enhance the single-ion conduction. The tailored PAES-g-2PEGPYR membrane shows a high Li-ion transference number of 0.601 and superior ionic conductivity of 1.38 mS cm-1 in the flexible solid state with the tensile strength of 1.0 MPa and Young's modulus of 1.5 MPa. Moreover, this PAES-g-2PEGPYR membrane exhibits a high oxidation potential (5.5 V) and high thermal stability up to 200 (C. The Li/PAES-g-2PEGPYR/Li cell stably operates for 1000 h without any short circuit, and the rechargeable Li/PAES-g-2PEGPYR/S cell discharges a capacity of 1004.7 mAh g-1 at C/5 with the excellent rate capability and the prominent cycling performance of 95.3% retention after 200 cycles.