Nano-cluster-enhanced high-performance perfluoro-polymer electrets for energy harvesting

Abstract

Development of high-performance electret materials is required to obtain a large power output of the electrostatic vibration-driven energy harvesters. In this study, by introducing aminosilane derivatives into CYTOP-based perfluorinated polymer film, we have successfully formed nano-clusters containing the organic siloxanes in the polymer electrets. Using small-angle x-ray scattering, tapping mode AFM and SEM analysis, the existence of such nano-clusters has been directly observed in the CYTOP film. It is suggested that the observed nano-clusters serve as the charge trap site and enhance the surface charge density and the thermal stability of the trapped charges. As a polymer electret, an extremely high surface charge potential of −1.6 kV with the 15 µm thick film has been obtained under the optimum condition of corona charging.

Outstanding performance of parylene polymers as electrets for energy harvesting and high‐temperature applications

“…After 100 days, σ is in the range 1.75 ± 0.1 mC/m 2 depending maybe on the thickness but more probably in the natural dispersive values on the samples due to the impossibility to have identical responses after such a long time of measurement. These values are higher than Teflon AF while they are comparable with the one found for CYTOP . Compared to other parylenes investigated in this study, the values for Parylene AF4 are slightly higher than Parylene C (1.5 mC/ m 2 ) and comparable to Parylene VT‐4 (1.74 mC/m 2 ).…”

Polymer nanogenerators: Opportunities and challenges for large‐scale applications

“…With precise air gap control using a long‐lasting electrostatic repulsive force, the mechanical wear lifetime and effective vibration harvesting of electret generators have been greatly improved. CYTOP is an optimal polymer for electret formation due to its high surface charge density of 1.3 mC m −2 (in 15‐μm thick films), and may be enhanced even further with the addition of aminosilanes, forming additional charge traps …”

Electret based vibration energy harvester for sensor network

“…2b, the molecular structure of CYTOP is characterized by its perfluorinated cyclic structure. Kashiwagi et al [12] also examined CYTOPbased electret, in which additive-based nano-clusters are formed. They obtained extremely-high surface charge density of 2 mC/m 2 using a 15-µm-thick film and showed much better thermal stability of charges at 100 ºC.…”

“…Masaki et al [27] developed an overlapping-areachange electret generator (20 mm×20 mm×4 mm) using CYTOP EGG electret [12] as shown in Fig. 6.…”