Rubber-like, eco-friendly superplastic could power sensors and other devices

A new ferroelectric polymer that doesn’t use an environmentally harmful and persistent substance classified as a “forever chemical” could pave the way for a new generation of greener wearables, sensors and other devices. The superplastic was developed by a team of scientists at Case Western Reserve University led by Lei Zhu, a professor of macromolecular science and engineering, who says, “The way this material generates electrical properties is also fundamentally new. Unlike conventional ferroelectric materials, it doesn’t have to crystallize to lock in the polarity that confers electrical properties.”

Most current ferroelectric materials are ceramic-based, inflexible, and have “spontaneous polarization,” meaning that electrical charge can be switched on and off with an electric field—a property critical to next-generation electronics, Interesting Engineering explains. The team’s approach stands out for bringing these interesting electrical properties to a polymer material that is lightweight, soft, and stretchable, making the new component ideal for integration into the human body.

The polymer’s chemical design improves processing, making it easier to produce into thin films or coatings, which could accelerate adoption in a range of electronics sectors, especially those looking to reduce waste and toxicity. Among the applications the team envisions, the new polymer could be used for infrared detectors and ultrasound devices, with the material being acoustically compatible with biological tissue.

The polymer's elasticity allows it to be used for next-generation virtual and augmented reality glasses, where there is a high demand for flexible and soft electronics.

The team's research began in 2017 with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, and although the grant ended in 2022, the researchers continued working “until we finally hit the jackpot,” Zhu says.