Enhanced piezoelectric performance of ZIF-8@PAN nanofiber membranes for energy harvesting

Recently, significant attention has been directed towards piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs), serving as nanoscale devices for energy harvesting, in the realm of providing power to wearable electronics. However, the limited power output of PENGs has significantly impeded their widespread application. To address this issue, the present study successfully developed a ZIF-8 functionalized polyacrylonitrile/tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate nanofiber membrane (ZIF-8@PAN/TBAHP-NM) with the aim of enhancing the energy harvesting efficiency of PENGs. The process entails the in-situ growth of ZIF-8 crystals onto the surfaces of PAN/TBAHP nanofibers. The experimental results show that the proportion of the planar zigzag conformation within the nanofiber membrane rises to 71.61 % upon the addition of TBAHP to pure PAN. Furthermore, the incorporation of ZIF-8 nanoparticles led to an increase in the proportion of the planar zigzag conformation to 79.60 %, thereby significantly enhancing the electromechanical energy conversion efficiency. The resultant PENGs exhibited a current output of approximately 2.5 μA and a voltage output of 14.8 V, marking an enhancement of 7.3 times and 4.9 times, respectively, compared to pure PAN nanofiber membranes. During a 5000-s durability test, the device maintained a stable electrical signal output, demonstrating robust durability. Additionally, simulations encompassing actions like walking, running, and jumping have further demonstrated the superior performance of piezoelectric nanosensors in tracking human motion, thereby laying the groundwork for advancements in the field of wearable electronics.