Enhanced Performance of PVDF-Based Piezoelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting Applications

Polymer-based nanofibers have been studied for their potential as energy harvesting materials over the past few years. This work demonstrates a one-step electrospinning process for creating a piezoelectric polymer nanofiber made from poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF polymer. The varying solvent ratios of dimethylformamide and acetone (DMF/Acetone) have been incorporated into synthesized nanofiber mats. These nanofiber mats have been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The variation in solvent ratio leads to the enhancement of beta (β) crystal phase of the fabricated mats. The piezoelectric output of the fabricated nanofibers at room temperature is studied using the digital storage oscilloscope (DSO). In this study, piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) are developed, and its piezoelectric output is recorded by tapping them against a surface with a finger. Results revealed that the piezoelectric performance of the PVDF nanofiber sample is enhanced by changing the solvent ratio. This method could be helpful in developing self-powered wearable devices and powering small devices.