A flexible triboelectric-piezoelectric hybrid nanogenerator based on P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers and PDMS/MWCNT for wearable devices.

Xingzhao Wang,Qing He,Yanbo Zhu,Jingquan Liu,Bin Yang,Chunsheng Yang

doi:10.1038/srep36409

Abstract

This paper studied and realized a flexible nanogenerator based on P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers and PDMS/MWCNT thin composite membrane, which worked under triboelectric and piezoelectric hybrid mechanisms. The P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers as a piezoelectric functional layer and a triboelectric friction layer are formed by electrospinning process. In order to improve the performance of triboelectric nanogenerator, the multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) is doped into PDMS patterned films as the other flexible friction layer to increase the initial capacitance. The flexible nanogenerator is fabricated by low cost MEMS processes. Its output performance is characterized in detail and structural optimization is performed. The device’s output peak-peak voltage, power and power density under triboelectric mechanism are 25 V, 98.56 μW and 1.98 mW/cm3 under the pressure force of 5 N, respectively. The output peak-peak voltage, power and power density under piezoelectric working principle are 2.5 V, 9.74 μW, and 0.689 mW/cm3 under the same condition, respectively. We believe that the proposed flexible, biocompatible, lightweight, low cost nanogenerator will supply effective power energy sustainably for wearable devices in practical applications.

Highlights

Due to relatively high output and easy fabrication process, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) appeared recently and are noticeable as an energy scavenging method[15,16]
We present a stretchable, flexible triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerator (TPENG) based on P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers to further increase the output power
The TPENG is composed of two films, which include a bottom friction layer of PDMS/multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) membrane with patterned micro structure and a top functional piezoelectric layer of P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers with double layers electrodes

Summary

Introduction

Due to relatively high output and easy fabrication process, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) appeared recently and are noticeable as an energy scavenging method[15,16]. They generate positive and negative charges on two dissimilar surfaces when the two layers contact and separate each other. PVDF film was proposed as a functional piezoelectric material of a flexible curved generator which converted mechanical energy to electricity from body movements[40]. We present a stretchable, flexible triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerator (TPENG) based on P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers to further increase the output power. Through optimization processes and characterization, the presented TPENG has been used for the application of finger motion detector

Methods

Results

Conclusion