Measurement of flexoelectric response in polyvinylidene fluoride films for piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters

This study presents an investigation on the measurement of flexoelectric response in beta-phase polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films attached on cantilever beam-based flexible piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters (PVEHs). The flexoelectric response associated with negative strain gradients was simulated through harmonic response analysis by using the finite element method (FEM). The polarization frequency response functions (FRFs) modified by direct flexoelectric effect of PVDF films was experimentally validated by multi-mode FRFs. From quantitative comparisons between experimental observations and simulated estimation of FRFs, it is demonstrated that the direct flexoelectric response can be observed in PVDF films attached on PVEHs.