@article{WangRychkovNguyenetal.2020, author = {Wang, Jingwen and Rychkov, Dmitry and Nguyen, Quyet Doan and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {Unexpected bipolar space-charge polarization across transcrystalline interfaces in polypropylene electret films}, series = {Journal of applied physics}, volume = {128}, journal = {Journal of applied physics}, number = {13}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics, AIP}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {0021-8979}, doi = {10.1063/5.0022071}, pages = {7}, year = {2020}, abstract = {A double-layer transcrystalline polypropylene (PP) film with a flat central interface layer between its two transcrystalline layers is obtained by recrystallization from the melt between two polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surfaces on both sides of the PP film. Its electret properties are studied and compared with those of a single-layer transcrystalline PP film re-crystallized in contact with only one PTFE surface. Within experimental uncertainty, the two types of transcrystalline films exhibit the same thermal properties and crystallinities. After thermal poling, however, two hetero-charge layers of opposite polarity are found on the internal interfaces of the double-layer transcrystalline films and may together be considered as micrometer-sized dipoles. The unexpected phenomenon does not occur in single-layer transcrystalline samples without a central interface layer, suggesting that the interfaces between the transcrystalline layers and the micrometer-thick central interface layer may be the origin of deeper traps rather than the crystalline structures in the transcrystallites or the spherulites. The origin of the interfacial charges was also studied by means of an injection-blocking charging method, which revealed that intrinsic charge carriers introduced during recrystallization are most likely responsible for the interfacial charges. It is fascinating that a material as familiar as PP can exhibit such intriguing properties with a special bipolar space-charge polarization across the central interface layer after quasi-epitaxial surface moulding into a double-layer transcrystalline form. In addition to applications in electret (micro-)devices for electro-mechanical transduction, the highly ordered structures may also be employed as a new paradigm for studying charge storage and transport in polymer electrets and in dielectrics for DC electrical insulation.}, language = {en} } @article{RamanVenkatesanSmykallaPlossetal.2022, author = {Raman Venkatesan, Thulasinath and Smykalla, David and Ploss, Bernd and W{\"u}bbenhorst, Michael and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {Tuning the relaxor-ferroelectric properties of Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) Terpolymer films by means of thermally induced micro- and nanostructures}, series = {Macromolecules : a publication of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {55}, journal = {Macromolecules : a publication of the American Chemical Society}, number = {13}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0024-9297}, doi = {10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00302}, pages = {5621 -- 5635}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The effects of thermal processing on the micro- and nanostructural features and thus also on the relaxor-ferroelectric properties of a P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) terpolymer were investigated in detail by means of dielectric experiments, such as dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS), dielectric hysteresis loops, and thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDCs). The results were correlated with those obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results from DRS and DSC show that annealing reduces the Curie transition temperature of the terpolymer, whereas the results from WAXD scans and FTIR spectra help to understand the shift in the Curie transition temperatures as a result of reducing the ferroelectric phase fraction, which by default exists even in terpolymers with relatively high CFE contents. In addition, the TSDC traces reveal that annealing has a similar effect on the midtemperature transition by altering the fraction of constrained amorphous phase at the interphase between the crystalline and the amorphous regions. Changes in the transition temperatures are in turn related to the behavior of the hysteresis curves on differently heat-treated samples. During heating, evolution of the hysteresis curves from ferroelectric to relaxor-ferroelectric, first exhibiting single hysteresis loops and then double hysteresis loops near the Curie transition of the sample, is observed. When comparing the dielectric-hysteresis loops obtained at various temperatures, we find that annealed terpolymer films show higher electric-displacement values and lower coercive fields than the nonannealed sample, irrespective of the measurement temperature, and also exhibit ideal relaxor- ferroelectric behavior at ambient temperatures, which makes them excellent candidates for applications at or near room temperature. By tailoring the annealing conditions, it has been shown that the application temperature could be increased by fine tuning the induced micro- and nanostructures.}, language = {en} } @article{SpelzhausenIonianGerhardetal.2020, author = {Spelzhausen, Simon and Ionian, Mario-Rafael and Gerhard, Reimund and Plath, Ronald}, title = {Time-resolved measurement of space-charge evolution in dielectric films or slabs by means of repeatable laser-induced pressure pulses}, series = {Review of scientific instruments : a monthly journal devoted to scientific instruments, apparatus, and techniques}, volume = {91}, journal = {Review of scientific instruments : a monthly journal devoted to scientific instruments, apparatus, and techniques}, number = {5}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0034-6748}, doi = {10.1063/1.5142443}, pages = {7}, year = {2020}, abstract = {A new variant of the Laser-Induced Pressure-Pulse (LIPP) method for repeatable, time-resolved space-charge profile measurements is proposed and demonstrated. Automated deposition of a fresh laser-target film before each illumination leads to good repeatability of the LIPP and thus allows for the detection of time-resolved changes in the space-charge distribution over many hours. We describe and discuss the experimental setup and its features, compare the repeatability of the LIPP measurements on the same sample without and with re-preparation of the test cell, and present the time-resolved evolution of the space-charge profile in a two-layer arrangement of a silicone-grease and a silicone-elastomer film as an example. Finally, the temperature dependence of the space-charge evolution during polarization under high voltage and during depolarization in short circuit is shown. Possible uses and future developments of the new LIPP approach are also discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{FloresSuarezMellingerWegeneretal.2006, author = {Flores Su{\´a}rez, Rosaura and Mellinger, Axel and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund and Singh, Rajeev}, title = {Thermal-pulse tomography of polarization distributions in a cylindrical geometry}, series = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation}, volume = {13}, journal = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation}, number = {5}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {Piscataway}, issn = {1070-9878}, doi = {10.1109/TDEI.2006.258210}, pages = {1030 -- 1035}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Fast, three-dimensional polarization mapping in piezoelectric sensor cables was performed by means of the novel thermal-pulse tomography (TPT) technique with a lateral resolution of 200 mum. The active piezoelectric cable material (a copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride with trifluoroethylene) was electrically poled with a point-to-cable corona discharge. A focused laser was employed to heat the opaque outer electrode, and the short-circuit current generated by the thermal pulse was used to obtain 3D polarization maps via the scale transformation method. The article describes the TPT technique as a fast non-destructive option for studying cylindrical geometries.}, language = {en} } @article{WangRychkovNguyenetal.2020, author = {Wang, Jingwen and Rychkov, Dmitry and Nguyen, Quyet Doan and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {The influence of orthophosphoric-acid surface modification on charge-storage enhancement in polypropylene electrets}, series = {Journal of applied physics}, volume = {128}, journal = {Journal of applied physics}, number = {3}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-8979}, doi = {10.1063/5.0013805}, pages = {6}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Bipolar electrets from polypropylene (PP) are essential, e.g., in electret air filters and in cellular-foam ferroelectrets. Therefore, the mechanism of surface-charge stability enhancement on PP electrets via orthophosphoric-acid surface treatment is investigated in detail. It is shown that the significant charge-stability enhancement can be mainly attributed to deeper surface traps originating from deposited chemicals and topographic features on the modified surfaces. Thermally stimulated discharge of chemically treated and non-treated PP films with different surface-charge densities is used to test the limits of the newly formed deep traps in terms of the capacity for hosting surface charges. When the initial surface-charge density is very high, more charges are forced into shallower original traps on the surface or in the bulk of the treated PP samples, reducing the effect of the deeper surface traps brought by the surface modification. The well-known crossover phenomenon (of the surface-charge decay curves) has been observed between modified PP electrets charged to +/- 2kV and to +/- 3kV. Acoustically probed charge distributions in the thickness direction of PP electrets at different stages of thermal discharging indicate that the deep surface trapping sites may have preference for negative charges, resulting in the observed asymmetric charge stability of the modified PP films.}, language = {en} } @article{GidionGerhard2018, author = {Gidion, Gunnar and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {The Bow on a String}, series = {Acta Acustica united with Acustica}, volume = {104}, journal = {Acta Acustica united with Acustica}, number = {2}, publisher = {Hirzel Verlag}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {1610-1928}, doi = {10.3813/AAA.919174}, pages = {315 -- 322}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The interaction between a bowed string instrument and its player is conveyed by the bow, the vibrational properties of which can be measured either separately on the bow or during the bowing procedure. Here, two piezoelectric film sensors, made of a ferroelectret material, are installed on a violin bow, one sensor at the tip and one at the frog. With these sensors, a violin is played under normal conditions, and the signals are analysed. The features in the resulting spectrograms are identified as string harmonics and longitudinal bow-hair resonances. The bow-hair sections on both sides of the bow-string contact exhibit separate resonances which are observed as absorption dips in the spectra. Owing to the sensor positions at the bow-hair terminations, it can be inferred that the two bow-hair sections act as mutual vibration absorbers. From a regression of the observed resonances, the longitudinal bow-hair velocity can be obtained. With additional film sensors under the violin bridge, body vibrations were also detected providing further details of the coupling mechanisms.}, language = {en} } @article{WangZhangYanetal.2022, author = {Wang, Feipeng and Zhang, Zheng and Yan, Yuyang and Shen, Zijia and Wang, Qiang and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {Surface reconstruction on electro-spun PVA/PVP nanofibers by water evaporation}, series = {Nanomaterials}, volume = {12}, journal = {Nanomaterials}, number = {5}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2079-4991}, doi = {10.3390/nano12050797}, pages = {7}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Tailoring the secondary surface morphology of electro-spun nanofibers has been highly desired, as such delicate structures equip nanofibers with distinct functions. Here, we report a simple strategy to directly reconstruct the surface of polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) nanofibers by water evaporation. The roughness and diameter of the nanofibers depend on the temperature during vacuum drying. Surface changes of the nanofibers from smooth to rough were observed at 55 degrees C, with a significant drop in nanofiber diameter. We attribute the formation of the secondary surface morphology to the intermolecular forces in the water vapor, including capillary and the compression forces, on the basis of the results from the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy. The strategy is universally effective for various electro-spun polymer nanofibers, thus opening up avenues toward more detailed and sophisticated structure design and implementation for nanofibers.}, language = {en} } @article{RamanVenkatesanWuebbenhorstGerhard2022, author = {Raman Venkatesan, Thulasinath and W{\"u}bbenhorst, Michael and Gerhard, Reimund}, title = {Structure-property relationships in three-phase relaxor-ferroelectric terpolymers}, series = {Ferroelectrics}, volume = {586}, journal = {Ferroelectrics}, number = {1}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {0015-0193}, doi = {10.1080/00150193.2021.2014260}, pages = {60 -- 81}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene)-based (P(VDF-TrFE)-based) terpolymers represent a new class of electroactive polymer materials that are relaxor-ferroelectric (RF) polymers and that offer unique and attractive property combinations in comparison with conventional ferroelectric polymers. The RF state is achieved by introducing a fluorine-containing termonomer as a "defect" into the ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer, which reduces the interaction between the VDF/TrFE dipoles. The resulting terpolymer exhibits a low Curie transition temperature and small remanent and coercive fields yielding a slim hysteresis loop that is typical for RF materials. Though the macroscopic behavior is similar to RF ceramics, the mechanisms of relaxor ferroelectricity in semi-crystalline polymers are different and not fully understood yet. Structure-property relationships play an important role in RF terpolymers, as they govern the final RF properties. Hence, a review of important characteristics, previous studies and relevant developments of P(VDF-TrFE)-based terfluoropolymers with either chlorofluoroethylene (CFE) or chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) as the termonomer is deemed useful. The role of the termonomer and of its composition, as well as the effects of the processing conditions on the semi-crystalline structure which in turn affects the final RF properties are discussed in detail. In addition, the presence of noteworthy transition(s) in the mid-temperature range and the influence of preparation conditions on those transitions are reviewed. A better understanding of the fundamental aspects affecting the semi-crystalline structures will help to elucidate the nature of RF activity in VDF-based terpolymers and also help to further improve their applications-relevant electroactive properties.}, language = {en} } @misc{LouposDamigosAmditisetal.2017, author = {Loupos, Konstantinos and Damigos, Yannis and Amditis, Angelos and Gerhard, Reimund and Rychkov, Dmitry and Wirges, Werner and Schulze, Manuel and Lenas, Sotiris-Angelos and Chatziandreoglou, Christos and Malliou, Christina and Tsaoussidis, Vassilis and Brady, Ken and Frankenstein, Bernd}, title = {Structural health monitoring system for bridges based on skin-like sensor}, series = {IOP conference series : Materials science and engineering}, volume = {236}, journal = {IOP conference series : Materials science and engineering}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1757-8981}, doi = {10.1088/1757-899X/236/1/012100}, pages = {10}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Structural health monitoring activities are of primal importance for managing transport infrastructure, however most SHM methodologies are based on point-based sensors that have limitations in terms of their spatial positioning requirements, cost of development and measurement range. This paper describes the progress on the SENSKIN EC project whose objective is to develop a dielectric-elastomer and micro-electronics-based sensor, formed from a large highly extensible capacitance sensing membrane supported by advanced microelectronic circuitry, for monitoring transport infrastructure bridges. Such a sensor could provide spatial measurements of strain in excess of 10\%. The actual sensor along with the data acquisition module, the communication module and power electronics are all integrated into a compact unit, the SENSKIN device, which is energy-efficient, requires simple signal processing and it is easy to install over various surface types. In terms of communication, SENSKIN devices interact with each other to form the SENSKIN system; a fully distributed and autonomous wireless sensor network that is able to self-monitor. SENSKIN system utilizes Delay-/Disruption-Tolerant Networking technologies to ensure that the strain measurements will be received by the base station even under extreme conditions where normal communications are disrupted. This paper describes the architecture of the SENSKIN system and the development and testing of the first SENSKIN prototype sensor, the data acquisition system, and the communication system.}, language = {en} } @misc{CheilakouTsopelasAnastasopoulosetal.2018, author = {Cheilakou, E. and Tsopelas, N. and Anastasopoulos, A. and Kourousis, D. and Rychkov, Dmitry and Gerhard, Reimund and Frankenstein, B. and Amditis, A. and Damigos, Y. and Bouklas, C.}, title = {Strain monitoring system for steel and concrete structures}, series = {Procedia Structural Integrity}, volume = {10}, journal = {Procedia Structural Integrity}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2452-3216}, doi = {10.1016/j.prostr.2018.09.005}, pages = {25 -- 32}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The present work is part of a collaborative H2020 European funded research project called SENSKIN, that aims to improve Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for transport infrastructure through the development of an innovative monitoring and management system for bridges based on a novel, inexpensive, skin-like sensor. The integrated SENSKIN technology will be implemented in the case of steel and concrete bridges, and tested, field-evaluated and benchmarked on actual bridge environment against a conventional health monitoring solution developed by Mistras Group Hellas. The main objective of the present work is to implement the autonomous, fully functional strain monitoring system based on commercially available off-the-shelf components, that will be used to accomplish direct comparison between the performance of the innovative SENSKIN sensors and the conventional strain sensors commonly used for structural monitoring of bridges. For this purpose, the mini Structural Monitoring System (mini SMS) of Physical Acoustics Corporation, a comprehensive data acquisition unit designed specifically for long-term unattended operation in outdoor environments, was selected. For the completion of the conventional system, appropriate foil-type strain sensors were selected, driven by special conditioners manufactured by Mistras Group. A comprehensive description of the strain monitoring system and its peripheral components is provided in this paper. For the evaluation of the integrated system's performance and the effect of various parameters on the long-term behavior of sensors, several test steel pieces instrumented with different strain sensors configurations were prepared and tested in both laboratory and field ambient conditions. Furthermore, loading tests were performed aiming to validate the response of the system in monitoring the strains developed in steel beam elements subject to bending regimes. Representative results obtained from the above experimental tests have been included in this paper as well.}, language = {en} }