Electrical impedance spectroscopy study of piezoelectric PVDF membranes

Piezoelectric poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were prepared from pre-fabricated membranes by electrically poling in an intense electric field. The electrical impedance of PVDF membranes measured over a frequency range of 10(-2)-10(5) Hz before and after poling is presented. The effect of pressure on the impedance characteristics of un-poled and poled PVDF membranes was also studied. A four element model circuit, including a constant phase element (CPE) was fitted to the impedance spectra. The elements of the circuit fitted to the poled sample were more conductive compared with those of the un-poled sample. Stronger CPE elements in the circuit were detected in the poled samples under pressure suggesting that the piezoelectric activity of PVDF is the major contributor to the constant phase angle seen at low frequencies.