Utilizing a High-Performance Piezoelectric Nanocomposite as a Self-Activating Component in Piezotronic Artificial Mechanoreceptors.

Challenges such as poor dispersion and insufficient polarization of BaTiO (BTO) nanoparticles (NPs) within poly(vinylidene fluoride--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.