Coupling of interface effects and porous microstructures in translucent piezoelectric composites for enhanced energy harvesting and sensing. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Zheng; Du, Xiangxin; Luo, Jikui; Yao, Liqin; Zhang, Zhao; Yang, Hui; Zhang, Qilong
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 84(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Piezoelectric composite -- Piezoelectric nanogenerator -- Interface effect -- Atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.105895
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its copolymer based piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) have attracted extensive attention, which can hopefully be applied in the fields of wearable electric devices and sensing systems. However, one great challenge that limits their large-scale application is to achieve PVDF based composites with high piezoelectric performance. Herein, a facile and efficient method is proposed to develop translucent, porous composites with high β phase content and abundant micropores. Enhanced β phase formation is attributed to the electrostatic bonding between fillers (ZnO nanoparticles and Ag nanowires) and -CH2 and -CF2 chains, yet, local conformational disorder at the ZnO-matrix interface region caused by strong interface effect results in local stabilization of β phase. Coupling of high β phase content and microporous structure is believed to be essential for achieving considerable piezoelectric outputs (7.1 μW/cm 2 ) and excellent force sensitivity (1.155 V/kPa). In practical applications, the composites based PENGs can efficiently harvest mechanical energy from human motions and detect weak physiological signals. Furthermore, a 3 × 2 pixel tactile sensor array is integrated successfully to work as self-powered flexible coded lock without power supply. Our work offers a simple approach to high-performance piezoelectric composites and moves a step toward sensing application. Graphical Abstract: A facile method is proposed to develop translucent, porous P(VDF-TrFE) composites with enhanced β phase owing to the inhomogeneous influence of interface effects. PENGs based on composites demonstrate significant enhancement in energy harvesting and sensing. ga1 Highlights: A facile and efficient method is proposed to develop translucent, porous P(VDF-TrFE) composites. The inhomogeneous interface effects have been clarified by the direct structure mapping. A 3 × 2 pixel tactile sensor array is integrated to work as self-powered coded lock.