A flexible pressure sensor based on arrowroot starch/CNT bio-nanocomposite films for piezoelectric application

The advancement of biodegradable, flexible, and sensitive piezoelectric and sensors has become very popular in recent years to replace petroleum-based materials. In this research, the piezoelectric films were created from an arrowroot biopolymer with a small amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (0–1 % weight) using a simple method called solution casting. The chemical composition of the nanocomposites was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The shape and structure of the films were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrical conductivity, performance of the piezoelectric nanogenerator, and sensitivity of the piezoelectric material were tested using a 4-point probe, a digital signal oscilloscope, and a measurement of the longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient (d33), respectively. The results show that the morphology of CNTs inside the matrix was well-dispersed and can form an electric conductive network at 1.0 wt% CNTs (ARC1.0) loading inside the matrix. The films also exhibited good electrical conductivity at 7.72 × 10−5 S/cm. The excellent piezoelectric sensitivity of 9.4 pC/N was achieved as well, which was nearly 2.54 times higher than that obtained in the pure starch (3.7 pC/N). When the film was tested on a nanogenerator with a force of 5 N, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the ARC1.0 films showed the voltage output that was four times higher than the neat film, reaching 16.23 V. Therefore, the films can be effectively used for flexible and wearable sensors, providing a new way to make affordable and easily produced piezoelectric materials.

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