Ultrahigh electromechanical output in ferroelectric polymer via a continuous and aligned pore design

Abstract

Polymer piezoelectric materials are promising for wearable electronics and flexible sensing due to their intrinsic flexibility, yet their typically low piezoelectric coefficients limit practical performance. Here, we present a piezoelectret-based structural design that integrates continuous and aligned pores (CAP) into ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)], substantially enhancing its electromechanical response. The polarized heterocharges distributed within the CAP architecture establish aligned macroscopic dipoles along the out-of-plane direction, while the in-plane continuous morphology increases the effective dipole density. As a result, the CAP-structured P(VDF-TrFE) achieves an ultrahigh equivalent piezoelectric coefficient of 5727 pC N⁻¹. The film also exhibits excellent stability over 6000 cycles, high sensitivity, good linearity, and considerable power output. These properties make it promising for flexible electronics, as demonstrated in physiological monitoring and environmental vibration sensing. This work provides a straightforward strategy to boost the electromechanical output of piezoelectric polymers while retaining their flexibility and low weight, thereby advancing their application in next-generation flexible electronics.