Temperature Compensated Tactile Sensing using MOSFET with P(VDF-TrFE)/BaTiO3 Capacitor as Extended Gate

This paper presents poly(vinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene)/barium titanate [P(VDF-TrFE)-BT] nanocomposite-based touch sensors tightly coupled with MOSFET devices in extended gate configuration. The P(VDF-TrFE)-BT nanocomposite exploits the distinct piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of P(VDF-TrFE) polymer matrix and BT fillers to suppress the temperature response when force and temperature are varied simultaneously. The reasons for this unique feature have been established through structural and electrical characterization of nanocomposite. The proposed touch sensor was tested over a wide range of force/ pressure (0–4N)/(0–364 Pa) and temperature (26 °C–70 °C) with almost linear response. The sensitivity toward force/pressure and temperature sensor is 670 mV/N/7.36 mV/Pa and 15.34 mV/°C, respectively. With this modified touch sensing capability, the proposed sensors will open new direction for tactile sensing in robotic applications.