Innovative Applications of Fully Printed, Flexible Sensors: Energy Harvesting and Smart Interfaces (Printed Electronics USA 2015)

At JOANNEUM RESEARCH a pyro- and piezoelectric sensor technology (PyzoFlex®) has been developed during the past couple of years. The PyzoFlex®-technology consist of fully (screen- and/or R2R) printed piezo-/pyroelectric polymer sensors on flexible substrates (PET, paper, textiles). New opportunities for innovative use cases in the area of printed electronics open up due to the fact that these sensors are (i) energy self-sufficient, thus making energy harvesting possible, (ii) scalable, (iii) light weight, and (iv) show very high sensitivity to changes in temperature, pressure and deformation.

Gregor Scheipl studied earth sciences with focus on petrology and geochemistry at the Karl-Franzens University in Graz. He finished his studies with the applied master thesis: "Purification and chemical characterization of organic semiconducting materials" in 2005. Since 2008 he is employed as a permanent scientist at JOANNEUM RESEARCH/Materials in Austria.

His main interests are fabrication and characterization of physical sensors as well as ferroelectric polymers, pyro‐ and piezoelectricity and printing/imprinting techniques.

Due to the exceptionally high potential and maturity of PyzoFlex® technology, Gregor's focus has shifted to business development in order to successfully commercialize PyzoFlex®.

PyzoFlex® is a technology by JOANNEUM RESEARCH, a leading international research organisation. PyzoFlex® allows the cost efficient production of large area, flexible and energy self-sufficient sensors for the detection of pressure and temperature changes as well as vibration monitoring and provides opportunities for new products or processes based on Intelligent Surfaces.