Toward High Power Generating Piezoelectric Nanofibers: Influence of Particle Size and Surface Electrostatic Interaction of Ce–Fe₂O₃ and Ce–Co₃O₄ on PVDF

Abstract

Development of flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) is a real challenge for the next-generation energy-harvesting applications. In this paper, we report highly flexible PENGs based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/2 wt % Ce–Fe 2 O 3 and PVDF/2 wt % Ce–Co 3 O 4 nanocomposite fibers. The incorporation of magnetic Ce–Fe 2 O 3 and Ce–Co 3 O 4 greatly affects the structural properties of PVDF nanofibers, especially the polymeric β and γ phases. In addition, the new composites enhanced the interfacial compatibility through electrostatic filler–polymer interactions. Both PVDF/Ce–Fe 2 O 3 and PVDF/Ce–Co 3 O 4 nanofibers-based PENGs, respectively, produce peak-to-peak output voltages of 20 and 15 V, respectively, with the corresponding output currents of 0.010 and 0.005 μA/cm 2 under the force of 2.5 N. Enhanced output performance of the flexible nanogenerator is correlated with the electroactive polar phases generated within the PVDF, in the presence of the nanomaterials. The designed nanogenerators respond to human wrist movements with the highest output voltage of 0.15 V, for the PVDF/Ce–Fe 2 O 3 when subjected to hand movements. The overall piezoelectric power generation is correlated with the nanoparticle size and the existing filler–polymer and ion–dipole interactions.

Solution Blow Spinning of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Based Fibers for Energy Harvesting Applications: A Review

“…Metallic oxides, such as hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ) and cobalt oxide (Co 3 O 4 ), have also been employed as nanofillers [63]. PVDF nanofibers reinforced with 2 wt% Ce-Fe 2 O 3 (Ce is cerium with atomic number 58) and Ce-Co 3 O 4 recorded peak-to-peak output voltages of 20 V and 15 V with corresponding output currents of 0.010 and 0.005 µA/cm 2 , under the force of 2.5 N, respectively [63]. The transition metal cations influence the PVDF properties by affecting its chemical environment through covalent interactions as schematically shown in Figure 8 [63].…”

“…PVDF nanofibers reinforced with 2 wt% Ce-Fe 2 O 3 (Ce is cerium with atomic number 58) and Ce-Co 3 O 4 recorded peak-to-peak output voltages of 20 V and 15 V with corresponding output currents of 0.010 and 0.005 µA/cm 2 , under the force of 2.5 N, respectively [63]. The transition metal cations influence the PVDF properties by affecting its chemical environment through covalent interactions as schematically shown in Figure 8 [63]. The nanofillers act as heterogeneous nucleation site and the positively charged surface of nanofillers attracts negative ends of PVDF dipoles.…”

“…Schematic diagram of interaction between positively charged nanoparticles and dipoles in PVDF chains[63].…”

Enhancing the electroactive phases in freestanding flexible films of MoS 2 / PVDF

“…Thus, an increase in the EA phases of the polymer composite films is observed with the addition of filler. This enhancement is due to the interfacial interaction between PVDF and nanoflakes 39 …”

A hybrid piezoelectric nanogenerator comprising of KNN/ZnO nanorods incorporated PVDF electrospun nanocomposite webs

“…Samadi et al have reported TiO 2 ‐Fe 3 O 4 ‐MWCNT/PVDF and Fe 3 O 4 ‐GO/PVDF based electrospun hybrid nanocomposite materials for influencing the piezoelectric properties and electromagnetic wave absorption properties. In other study, Parangusan et al have investigated the role of electromagnetic filler (Ce‐Fe 2 O 3 and Ce‐Co 3 O 4 ) loaded into PVDF electrospun nanocomposite webs on its piezoelectric effect. They disclosed that electromagnetic fillers have additional effect in the piezoelectric performance of the PVDF polymer‐based nanogenerator as these fillers influence crystalline phase of the PVDF and interfacial polarization between the PVDF polymer and nanofiller.…”