Piezoelectric Polymer:
Researchers from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with scientists from National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune have developed a security alert system based on piezoelectric polymer nanocomposite.
- Piezoelectric Polymers are polymers that can generate electric charges on the surface under pressure/strain thus converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
- These polymers have much higher piezoelectric stress constants indicating that they are much better sensors than ceramics.
- They have low dielectric constant, low elastic stiffness, and low density, which result in a high voltage sensitivity and low acoustic and mechanical impedance (crucial for medical and underwater applications).
- Piezoelectric polymeric sensors and actuators offer the advantage of processing flexibility because they are lightweight, tough, readily manufactured into large areas, and can be cut and formed into complex shapes.
- Polymers also typically possess a high dielectric breakdown and high operating field strength, which means that they can withstand much higher driving fields than ceramics.
