Highly Sensitive Flexible Human Motion Sensor Based on ZnSnO3/PVDF Composite

A highly sensitive body motion sensor has been fabricated based on a composite active layer of zinc stannate (ZnSnO3) nano-cubes and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer. The thin film-based active layer was deposited on polyethylene terephthalate flexible substrate through D-bar coating technique. Electrical and morphological characterizations of the films and sensors were carried out to discover the physical characteristics and the output response of the devices. The synergistic effect between piezoelectric ZnSnO3 nanocubes and β phase PVDF provides the composite with a desirable electrical conductivity, remarkable bend sensitivity, and excellent stability, ideal for the fabrication of a motion sensor. The recorded resistance of the sensor towards the bending angles of −150° to 0° to 150° changed from 20 MΩ to 55 MΩ to 100 MΩ, respectively, showing the composite to be a very good candidate for motion sensing applications.