Self-powered piezoelectric pressure mapping footwear for podiatric analysis

This work demonstrates the development and implementation of a flexible piezoelectric-based self-powered sensor for pressure mapping in podiatric analysis. For the development of self-powered sensors, we prepared Ba 0.9 Sr 0.1 TiO 3 /polyvinyl difluoride (B 9 S 1 T/PVDF) piezoelectric fibres through electrospinning. The surface morphology of B 9 S 1 T/PVDF composite fibres using a scanning electron microscope image shows that the average fibre diameter decreases with increasing B 9 S 1 T content, ranging approximately from 0.43 μm to 0.22 μm. The piezoelectric output voltages of the PVDF and B 9 S 1 T/PVDF -based devices for frequencies of 5, 10, 15 and 20 Hz indicate a significant rise in generated voltage with the addition of B 9 S 1 T fibre with PVDF loading. Using the B 9 S 1 T/PVDF composite fibres, we developed pressure sensors, and it was found that 7 wt.% B 9 S 1 T /PVDF sensors produced comparatively higher output differential voltage, while the 20% PVDF sensors have better linear response. Based on this, the 7 wt.% B 9 S 1 T /PVDF sample was chosen to be embedded in an insole for pressure mapping. The device performance showed that output voltage varies by sensor location, such as 871 mV at the hallux, 939 mV at the 1 st metatarsal pad, 701 mV at the 5 th metatarsal pad and 1018 mV at the heel. The data obtained was then visualised as a heatmap for gait analysis. • Development of a flexible piezoelectric-based pressure mapping for assessing human gait • Preparation of Ba 0.9 Sr 0.1 TiO 3 (B 9 S 1 T)/ polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) fibres through electrospinning • Developed B 9 S 1 T/PVDF-based pressure sensors, and 7 wt.% BST/PVDF sensors produced high voltage. • Self-powered sensors used pressure mapping systems for real-time gait and podiatric analysis.