Freestanding, flexible, composite thin films of MoS2/PVDF have been synthesized using sol–gel method. Concentration of the fillers was optimized to tune the formation of electroactive phases (EA). The maximum amount of EA phases was obtained for 1 wt% of filler concentration. The as‐prepared samples were characterized to understand the effect of fillers on their microstructural, vibrational, and morphological properties. The fractions, of both β and γ phases, were calculated from infrared spectra. An enhancement of the EA phase from 28% to 83% was observed with the addition of 1 wt% of nanoflake fillers. The fillers were found to reduce the crystallinity of the host polymer matrix. Additionally, the morphology shows a change from spherulitic to fibrous nature with the appearance of nanoflakes on the surface for higher filler concentrations. The nanoflakes induce interfacial polarization. The intercalation of nanoflakes into the host matrix, leads to the observed trends.

Freestanding, composite films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and cellulose were synthesized and characterized for morphological, microstructural, vibrational and dielectric properties. The thickness of the freestanding films was found to be $38 μm. Contact angle measurements showed the hydrophobic nature of the composite films. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the reduction in the α phase content of the PVDF films with the addition of fillers. The measured dielectric constant of the composite films was found to be more than two times than that of the pristine films. An increase in the dielectric constant of the composite films was attributed to the Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) polarization. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) operating in a vertical contact-separation configuration was fabricated using these composite films. A maximum output power density of $6 μW/cm 2 was achieved from the TENG fabricated using the composite films.

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