What is it about?
A ferroelectric nanogenerator without any electric poling treatment has been realized by incorporation of ytterbium (Yb) salt incorporated porous PVDF composite film. The composite film compose of electroactive β- and γ-phases, demonstrates higher dielectric and ferroelectric polarization responses than pure PVDF film. The 3 V of open circuit voltage with 0.47 μW/cm2 power density was generated by the nanogenerator upon single finger touch. It can also operate capacitor and light emitting diode without any subsidiary batteries.
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Why is it important?
Energy harvesting from small ambient vibrations (e.g., wind, earthquake, rain, body movement, etc.) is a new pathway for production of green and renewable energy. Piezoelectric nanogenerator (NG) is an energy harvesting device that converts ubiquitous vibrations into a form of electrical signal based on the energy conversion by nano-structured piezoelectric materials. Harvesting energy from our surroundings is a good choice to meet the energy needs without causing unexpected environmental issues. Among various energy sources, mechanical energy is universally available, environmental friendly and reliable energy sources in our daily life, which is accompanying us regardless of the weather or temperature conditions as for solar and thermoelectric energy. In addition, the choice of material is another critical issue to meet the criteria of environmental viability. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) [PVDF,-(CH2-CF2)-n] and its co-polymers are classified as good ferroelectric bio-polymer materials those also exhibit electroactive response, including piezo-, pyro- and ferro-electric effects. In the presence of electroactive β- and γ-phases, PVDF promises wide range of applications such as in biomedicine, energy generation and storage, sensors and actuators, separator in power cell, proton exchange membranes, smart scaffolds, and many others . However, most of the applications based on this polymer are impeded by its low piezoelectric coefficients (dij). In this context, polymer electret based NGs with high dij are the suitable choice for next generation flexible electronics.
Perspectives
In this work, a self-poled piezoelectretic nanogenerator based on novel hybrid ferroelectretic polymer (PVDF) nanocomposite film composed of β- and γ-crystalline phases and porous structure is demonstrated. This film possesses superior dielectric and ferroelectric properties. The fabricated nanogenerator delivers sufficient amount of power that easily drives several consumer electronics such as, capacitor, light emitting diode (LED) etc. without any subsidiary batteries rather under gentle touch of human finger. This self-powered system is highly applicable as a strain sensor that can be used in wireless transport monitoring system where the input of the traffic can be sensed and electrical signal is being generated.
Dr. Sujoy Kumar Ghosh
NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR,Pisa, Italy
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Self Powered Flexible Electronics Based on Self Poled “Ferroelectretic” Nanogenerator, MRS Advances, January 2016, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1557/adv.2016.319.
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