Wearable Electrospun Piezoelectric Mats Based on a PVDF Nanofiber–ZnO@ZnS Core–Shell Nanoparticles Composite for Power Generation

Abstract

This work adopted a strategy to use new functional high-performance piezoelectric materials for sustainable energy production in wearable self-powered electrical devices. An innovative modification in electrospinning was used to produce highly aligned nanofibers. In the nanogenerator, the flexible membrane constituents were tunefully combined. The novel composite nanofibers were made of Poly (vinylidene fluoride) PVDF, loaded with ZnO@ZnS core–shell nanoparticles to achieve a non-brittle performance of the hetero nanoparticles and piezoelectric polymer. A nanofiber mat was inserted between two thermoplastic sheets with conductive electrodes for application in wearable electronic devices. Complete spectroscopic analyses were performed to characterize the nanofiber’s material composition. It is shown that the addition of 10 wt % ZnO@ZnS core–shell nanoparticles significantly improved the piezoelectric properties of the nanofibers and simultaneously kept them flexible due to the exceedingly resilient nature of the composite. The superior performance of the piezoelectric parameter of the nanofibrous mats was due to the crystallinity (polar β phase) and surface topography of the mat. The conversion sensitivity of the PVDF device recorded almost 0.091 V/N·mm3, while that of the PVDF—10 wt % ZnO@ZnS composite mat recorded a sensitivity of 0.153 V/N·mm3, which is higher than many flexible nano-generators. These nanogenerators provide a simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution to microelectronic wearable devices.

Electrospun Fenoprofen/Polycaprolactone @ Tranexamic Acid/Hydroxyapatite Nanofibers as Orthopedic Hemostasis Dressings

“…These properties include high specific surface area and porosity [20,21], 3D web structure, and facile to be modified [22][23][24][25]. Today, electrospinning is differentiated into many subbranches [26][27][28][29][30] and is expanding its real applications in many regions [31][32][33]. The monoaxial single-fluid electrospinning is the simplest and most basic one [34][35][36][37][38].…”

Pressure-Driven Piezoelectric Sensors and Energy Harvesting in Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate Film

“…The polymer matrix can represent both piezoelectric polymers with added piezoelectric particles and common non-piezoelectric polymers with active piezoelectric particles. The first group can be represented by a PVDF matrix embedded with Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 [ 13 ], nanostructured Zn–Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles [ 14 ], PVDF loaded with ZnO/ZnS core–shell nanoparticles for sustainable, wearable self-powered electrical devices [ 15 ], and BaTiO 3 particles dispersed in a piezoelectric polymeric PVDF-TrFE matrix providing flexibility and processability [ 16 ], all working as self-powered devices. The second group includes quasi-static pressure sensors or switches made from a polyamide-6 matrix with piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) [ 17 ], PZT-porous polyurethane (PU) composites [ 2 ], calcium-modified lead titanate ceramics, and the thermoplastic polymer polyether ketone [ 18 ].…”

“…If PVDF was filled with Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 , an open-circuit voltage of 126 V, short-current density of 4.67 mA m −2 , output power density of 0.39 W m −2 , and the ability to light up at least 86 LED and power electronic devices such as a timer were obtained [ 13 ]. The conversion sensitivity of pure PVDF was 0.091 V/N compared to 0.153 V/N for the PVDF-ZnO/ZnS composite [ 15 ]. P(VDF-HFP) filled with polyaniline and methylammonium lead iodide (CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 ) exhibited an open-circuit piezoelectric voltage output of 5 V and an output power of 8.2 nW [ 10 ].…”