Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting from Two-Dimensional Boron Nitride Nanoflakes

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) piezoelectric hexagonal boron nitride nanoflakes (h-BN NFs) were synthesized by a mechanochemical exfoliation process and transferred onto an electrode line-patterned plastic substrate to characterize the energy harvesting ability of individual NFs by external stress. A single BN NF produced alternate piezoelectric output sources of ∼50 mV and ∼30 pA when deformed by mechanical bendings. The piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g 11 ) of a single BN NF was experimentally determined to be 2.35 × 10 −3 V•m•N −1 . The piezoelectric composite composed of BN NFs and an elastomer was spin-coated onto a bulk Si substrate and then transferred onto the electrode-coated plastic substrates to fabricate a BN NFs-based flexible piezoelectric energy harvester (f-PEH) which converted a piezoelectric voltage of ∼9 V, a current of ∼200 nA, and an effective output power of ∼0.3 μW. This result provides a new strategy for precisely characterizing the energy generation ability of piezoelectric nanostructures and for demonstrating f-PEH based on 2D piezomaterials.

Lead‐Free Bi0.5(Na0.78K0.22)TiO3 Nanoparticle Filler–Elastomeric Composite Films for Paper‐Based Flexible Power Generators

“…Our results indicate that the suggested paper‐based high‐power generators provide a practical processing and design platform for promising self‐powered wearable devices, and explores the addition of new functionality to emerging biocompatible and flexible electronics, such as phase change memory devices, sensors, biomimetics, and so forth . In addition, our composite theory is also expected to apply in new material systems such as 2D nanomaterials by guiding and supporting a knowledge platform that will allow the adoption of new devices, with the concomitant positive impact on eco‐friendly device applications.…”

“…[56][57][58] In addition, our composite theory is also expected to apply in new material systems such as 2D nanomaterials [59,60] by guiding and supporting a knowledge platform that will allow the adoption of new devices, with the concomitant positive impact on eco-friendly device applications. [56][57][58] In addition, our composite theory is also expected to apply in new material systems such as 2D nanomaterials [59,60] by guiding and supporting a knowledge platform that will allow the adoption of new devices, with the concomitant positive impact on eco-friendly device applications.…”

Tunable Piezoelectricity of Multifunctional Boron Nitride Nanotube/Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Stretchable Composites

“…Furthermore, as the PDMS matrix is stretchable and the BNNTs are mechanically robust, the piezoelectric response of the BNNT/PDMS remains stable after cyclic deformation, with 2 wt% BNNT/PDMS composites demonstrating consistent | d 33 | throughout 10000 cycles of strain application to 15% (see Figure S7 and | d 33 | Measurement Following Cyclic Strain in the Supporting Information). This | d 33 | is competitive with commercially available piezoelectric materials including poled PVDF (TE Sensor Solutions Product: 2‐1003702‐7), a commonly utilized piezoelectric polymer possessing a | d 33 | of 33 pm V −1 , and similar electroactive composites, including boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) composites [ 36 ] which have only been reported for energy harvesting (Table S2, Supporting Information). The large | d 33 | of BNNT/PDMS composites indicate substantial potential for future use as a flexible, conformable actuator material even at elevated temperatures (>200 °C) since BNNTs will not depolarize [ 13 ] and PDMS remains thermally and chemically stable.…”

Visualizing Piezoelectricity on 2D Crystals Nanobubbles

“…[ 1 ] Recently, 2D materials have been demonstrated to be a platform of investigating fundamentals of piezoelectricity as well as related applications in nanoscale electromechanical systems and electronic devices. [ 2–4 ] There are a number of reasons for that. First, many crystals are found to be piezoelectric only when reduced to 2D, in which the inversion symmetry is broken in their 2D forms, as exemplified by odd layers of transition metal dichalcogenides families and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN).…”

“…First, many crystals are found to be piezoelectric only when reduced to 2D, in which the inversion symmetry is broken in their 2D forms, as exemplified by odd layers of transition metal dichalcogenides families and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). [ 2–5 ] Second, 2D materials have exceptional breaking strength and flexibility, which are essential characteristics to enable applications of piezoelectricity in flexible and wearable electronics, energy conversion, sensing, and other nanoscale technologies. [ 6 ] More interestingly, by combining piezoelectric materials with other semiconducting and photoresponsive 2D materials into van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, couplings between these materials are expected and have been reported to bring new exciting phenomena and applications.…”