Clemson University

Yongchang Dong

Apparao M Rao

Goutam Koley

Ramakrishna Podila

Herbert W Behlow

Sai Sunil Kumar Mallineni

Soaram Kim

Pressure/strain piezoresistive are described that include a poled piezoelectric polymer such as PVDF or P(VDF-TrFE) and graphene. The poled piezoelectric polymer and the graphene are electronically coupled to form a heterojunction and provide an ultra-high sensitivity pressure/strain sensor. The sensors can be carried on a flexible supporting substrate such as PDMS or PET to exhibit high flexibility. The materials of formation can be biocompatible and the sensors can be wearable or implantable.

Graphene/polymer heterostructure-based flexible and biocompatible pressure/strain sensor

Devices and methods relate to a portable self-powered wireless sensor and transmitter providing a tactile driven electric generator, using a 3D printed nano carbon and polymer electrodes. The device has two electrodes capable of producing greater than 2000 V, which when connected to a metal conductor is sufficient to create an electric field that can be used to wirelessly communicate a signal over a range of a few tens of meters. The sensor is completely self-powered and requires no motors or additional power such as active power supplies, batteries, or capacitors. The sensor generated waveform can be modulated by mechanical action such as hand tapping in a given sequence, which is preserved in the wireless signal (akin to Morse coding) and can be detected by existing compatible commercial electronic receivers. Resulting devices are suitable for security applications requiring wireless transmission of codes.

Self powered wireless sensor

Growing community of inventors

Clemson, SC, United States of America

Yongchang Dong