PDA@ BaTiO₃/CB doping enhances the piezoelectric properties of PVDF membrane for energy harvesting and sensor components

Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) are emerging as sustainable power sources for self-charging wearable electronic devices due to their capability to harvest mechanical energy from the environment. Here, we have developed a high-output flexible PENGs based on electrospun composite nanofibers involving poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), barium titanate modified by dopamine hydrochloride (PDA@BTO) with an enhanced electroactive phase. On addition of 3   wt % PDA@BTO nanoparticles, the electroactive β-phase of the PVDF is found to be intensified to ∼88.05% as account of the synergistic interfacial interaction between the PDA@BTO nanoparticles and the ferroelectric host polymer substrate on electrospinning. The introduction of carbon black (CB) promotes piezoelectric charge transfer and increases output power. The PBTO/CB/PVDF composite nanofibers delivered the highest V OC of 55   V and the optimal I SC 3.1 μA with 3% PBTO and 1% CB. The fabricated PENG based PBTO/CB/PVDF composite nanofibers successfully charged capacitors with capacities of 0.1 μF, 0.33 μF, and 1 μF to voltages of 1.9   V, 3.2   V, and 10   V within 400   s, respectively. The device has response time of 0.1   s and the d 33 piezoelectric constant of 1.7 pC/N. The piezoelectric devices exhibited minimal variation in voltage and excellent stability over 900 cycles and the prepared piezoelectric device can light up to 20 LEDs. The potential of the piezoelectric composite nanofiber membranes for assembling mechanical energy collectors and piezoelectric sensors was demonstrated.