Enhanced output performance of a flexible piezoelectric energy harvester based on stable MAPbI3-PVDF composite films

Abstract

The fabrication of a piezoelectric generator (PEG) that could provide higher levels of durability and stability while delivering higher output is an ever-present goal for self-powered and wearable electronic devices. This study resulted in a PEG based on a composite film composed of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite, and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), as a flexible polymer matrix that delivers high performance, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. These homogeneous MAPbI3-PVDF composite films with various volume factions of MAPbI3 were realized using simple solution technique, which show predominant dielectric and ferroelectric properties by varying the volume fraction of the MAPbI3. In particular, composite films containing 25 vol% MAPbI3 revealed a high dielectric constant of 56 at 1 kHz and remanent polarization of 0.83 µC/cm2. This particular PEG showed a high open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 17.8 V and a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 2.1 µA/cm2, and the same PEG with an active layer thickness of 97.7 µm has shown an enhancement in Voc of 45.6 V and Jsc of 4.7 µA/cm2. This level of high-output power performance is sufficient for operating commercial light-emitting diodes even under finger tapping without the need of a storage device.