Multi-functional zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) for solid-state fiber energy harvesting and storage devices

Abstract

Wearable electronic devices using energy device-based smart fibers have brought changes in Internet of Things (IoT) technology paradigms. Since electric power is essential to drive all current electronic devices, a flexible energy device is essential to construct a wearable energy systems. Herein, two different types of the fiber-based energy devices were manufactured using ZIF-67, which can improve catalytic properties. First of all, it was confirmed that ZIF-67 was adsorbed on the electrodes of the solid-state fiber-shaped supercapacitor (SS-FSC) and the catalytic property was enhanced, thereby improving the specific capacitance. Second, it was verified that ZIF-67 was adsorbed on the surface of Pt wire, which is the counter electrode (CE) of the solid-state fiber dye-sensitized solar cell (SS-FDSSC), to improve the catalytic properties, resulting in the improvement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the SS-FDSSCs. The optimized SS-FDSSC demonstrated enhanced electrocatalytic activity, with a PCE of up to 7.03%, which is about 40% greater than that of the pristine Pt wire electrode (5.02%). Therefore, the fiber-based energy devices functionalized with ZIF-67 with excellent catalytic properties and high surface area have been identified as having great potential for producing novel and efficient power sources for wearable electronic devices to be utilized in IoT applications.