A new plastic material free from harmful “forever chemicals” could provide a more environmentally friendly option for wearable electronics, sensors and other electrical applications.
Researchers have developed a ferroelectric polymer that does not contain fluorine – a persistent environmental pollutant used in conventional electronic plastics.
The material retains its electrical properties without the need to crystallise, a feature that could support new uses in flexible electronics.
The research, led by Case Western Reserve University, focuses on ferroelectric materials, which exhibit “spontaneous polarisation” – an internal electric field that can be reversed by applying an external field, similar to switching a light on and off.
This property enables the development of smaller, more efficient electronic components.
Lead researcher Lei Zhu is professor of macromolecular science and engineering at the Case School of Engineering.
Zhu said: “Unlike current ferroelectric materials, it doesn’t have to crystallise to lock in the polarity that gives it electrical properties.
“How this material generates its electric properties is also fundamentally new.”
The polymer is flexible and has what scientists describe as tunable electronic properties – meaning its behaviour can be adjusted – which makes it better suited to wearable electronics that must move with the human body. Conventional ceramic ferroelectric materials are rigid and brittle.
Polymers offer the advantage of being lightweight and flexible, but the most widely used ferroelectric polymer, poly(vinylidene fluoride) or PVDF, contains fluorine compounds that do not degrade in the environment. These “forever chemicals” are known to accumulate in ecosystems.
The new material could be used in infrared detectors, wearable sensors, and ultrasound diagnostic tools, where acoustic compatibility with human tissue is essential. It may also have potential in augmented and virtual reality headsets.
The research began in 2017 with funding from the US Department of Energy.
When the grant ended in 2022, the team continued work independently.
Zhu said: “We’re still in the development stage of synthesising small quantities and investigating the properties.
“But we’re excited about the potential to replace environmentally harmful plastics in sensors and detectors.”
The material is currently patent pending.
