No abstract

A facile and low cost synthesis of Ni(OH)2 nanobelt (NB) modified electroactive poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) thin films with excellent dielectric properties has been reported via in situ formation of Ni(OH)2 NBs in the PVDF matrix. The formation and morphology of the NBs are confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy respectively. A remarkable improvement in electroactive β phase nucleation (∼82%) and the dielectric constant (ε ∼ 3.1 × 10(6) at 20 Hz) has been observed in the nanocomposites (NCs). The interface between the NBs and the polymer matrix plays a crucial role in the enhancement of the electroactive β phase and the dielectric properties of thin films. Strong interaction via hydrogen bonds between Ni(OH)2 NBs and the PVDF matrix is the main reason for enhancement in β phase crystallization and improved dielectric properties. The NC thin films can be utilized for potential applications as high energy storage devices like supercapacitors, solid electrolyte batteries, self-charging power cells, piezoelectric nanogenerators, and thin film transistors and sensors.

The design of an energy-harvesting unit with superior output characteristics, i.e., high power density, is a great technological challenge in the present time. Here, simple, lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) have been fabricated by integrating the aluminum electrodes onto Er/Fe stimulated electroactive, visible-light-emitting, and large dielectric PVDF films in which ErCl·6HO and Fe(NO)·9HO act as the catalytic agents for electroactive β polymorph nucleation and the enhancement of dielectric properties. The developed PENGs exhibit excellent energy-harvesting performance with very high power density and very fast charging ability compared with the previously reported PVDF-assisted prototype nanogenerators. The PENGs lead to very large power density (∼160 and ∼55.34 mW cm) under periodic finger imparting for Er- and Fe-stimulated PVDF-film-based energy-harvester units, respectively. The fabricated self-powered PENG is also able to light up 54 commercially available light-emitting diodes.

A simple, cost-effective and environment-friendly biowaste crab shell-extracted chitin nanofiber-based superior piezoelectric nanogenerator was fabricated in this study.

Electroactive β phase nucleation in cerium/yttrium nitrate hexahydrate salt modified PVDF thin filmsviaformation of hydrogen bonds.