Enhanced Piezoelectric Effect in P(VDF-TrFE) through Synergistic Templating by PEDOT:PSS and Paper

To reduce the harm of electronic waste, there is impetus to expand the use of biodegradable substrates, biocompatible materials, and battery-free devices. In this study, a piezoelectric paper composite is produced by integrating polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene [P(VDF-TrFE)] with the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and wood fiber paper. It is shown that the combined effect of PEDOT:PSS and paper leads to an enhanced out-of-plane piezoelectric coefficient in P(VDF-TrFE), without the need for electric poling. The enhanced piezoelectric performance arises from a synergistic templating effect of PEDOT:PSS and paper that induces a sharp increase in the population of edge-on β phase P(VDF-TrFE) crystallites. The templating effect relies on supramolecular interactions between PSS and paper that lead to PEDOT enrichment and a linear PEDOT conformation at the interface with P(VDF-TrFE). Computational modeling reveals that linear PEDOT promotes β phase PVDF growth over the α phase due to a greater availability of hydrogen bonds. The synergistic templating of P(VDF-TrFE) on PEDOT:PSS-coated paper opens avenues for tuning the properties of piezoelectric paper.