Stimuli-Responsive Materials from Ferrocene-Based Organic Small Molecule for Wearable Sensors

Li, Ling; Zhang, Jianyu; Yang, Chenyi; Huang, Le; Zhang, Jun; Bai, Jie; Redshaw, Carl; Feng, Xing; Cao, Changyong; Huo, Nengjie; Li, Jingbo; Tang, Ben Zhong

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive crystals capable of energy conversion have emerged as promising materials for smart sensors, actuators, wearable devices, and robotics. Here, a novel ferrocene-based organic molecule crystal (Fc-Cz) that possesses anisotropic piezoelectric, optical, and mechanical properties is reported. It is demonstrated that the new crystal Fc-Cz can be used as an ultrasensitive piezoelectric material in fabricating strain sensors. The flexible sensor made of crystal Fc-Cz can detect small strains/deformations and motions with a fast response speed. Analysis based on density functional theory (DFT) indicates that an external pressure can affect the dipole moment by changing the molecular configuration of the asymmetric single crystal Fc-Cz in the crystalline state, leading to a change of polarity, and thereby an enhanced dielectric constant. This work demonstrates a new artificial organic small molecule for high-performance tactile sensors, indicating its great potential for developing low-cost flexible wearable sensors.

Citation

Li, L., Zhang, J., Yang, C., Huang, L., Zhang, J., Bai, J., …Tang, B. Z. (2021). Stimuli-Responsive Materials from Ferrocene-Based Organic Small Molecule for Wearable Sensors. Small, Article 2103125. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202103125

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 11, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Oct 5, 2021
• Publication Date: Oct 5, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 6, 2022
• Journal: Small
• Print ISSN: 1613-6810
• Electronic ISSN: 1613-6829
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Article Number: 2103125
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202103125
• Keywords: Aggregation-induced emission; Organic small molecules; Piezoelectricity; Polarizability; Wearable devices
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3849840