BTO Nanoparticles Research Articles

Synergistic barium titanate/MXene composite as a high-performance piezo-photocatalyst for efficient dye degradation

Piezo-photocatalysis combines photocatalysis and piezoelectric effects to enhance catalytic efficiency by creating an internal electric field in the photocatalyst, improving carrier separation and overall performance. This study presents a high-performance piezo-photocatalyst for efficient dye degradation using a synergistic barium titanate (BTO)-MXene composite. The composite was synthesized via a facile method, combining the unique properties of BTO nanoparticles with the high conductivity of MXene. The structural and morphological analysis confirmed the successful formation of the composite, with well-dispersed BTO nanoparticles on the MXene surface. The piezo-photocatalytic activity of the composite was evaluated using a typical dye solution (Rhodamine B: RhB) under ultraviolet irradiation and mechanical agitation. The results revealed a remarkable enhancement in dye degradation (90 % in 15 min for piezo-photocatalysis) compared to individual stimuli (58.2 % for photocatalysis and 95.8 % in 90 min for piezocatalysis), highlighting the synergistic effects between BTO and MXene. The enhanced catalytic performance was attributed to the efficient charge separation and transfer facilitated by the composite’s structure, leading to increased reactive species generation and dye molecule degradation. Furthermore, the composite exhibited excellent stability and reusability, showcasing its potential for practical applications in wastewater treatment. Overall, this work represents a promising strategy for designing high-performance synergistic catalysts, addressing the pressing need for sustainable solutions in environmental remediation.

Enhanced Piezocatalytic Performance of Li-doped BaTiO3 Through a Facile Sonication-Assisted Precipitation Approach.

Piezocatalysis-induced dye degradation has garnered significant attention as an effective method for addressing wastewater treatment challenges. In our study, we employed a room-temperature sonochemical method to synthesize piezoelectric barium titanate nanoparticles (BaTiO3: BTO) with varying levels of Li doping. This approach not only streamlined the sample preparation process but also significantly reduced the overall time required for synthesis, making it a highly efficient and practical method. One of the key findings was the exceptional performance of the Li-doped BTO nanoparticles. With 20 mg of Li additive, we achieved 90 % removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye within a relatively short timeframe of 150 minutes, all while subjecting the sample to ultrasonic vibration. This rapid and efficient dye degradation was further evidenced by the calculated kinetic rate constant, which indicated seven times faster degradation rate compared to pure BTO. The enhanced piezoelectric performance observed in the Li-doped BTO nanoparticles can be attributed to the strategic substitution of Li atoms, which facilitated a more efficient transfer of charge charges at the interface. Overall, our study underscores the potential of piezocatalysis coupled with advanced materials like Li-doped BTO nanoparticles as a viable and promising solution for wastewater treatment, offering both efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Development of ternary Pt/BaTiO3/Bi2O3 heterostructured piezo-photocatalysts for antibiotic degradation

The efficient separation of surface and bulk photocarriers is very crucial for improving the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors. To achieve this goal, herein we have developed ternary Pt/BaTiO3/Bi2O3 (Pt/BTO/BO) heterostructured piezo-photocatalysts with high capacity for antibiotic degradation. The ternary heterostructures were constructed by anchoring BTO and Pt nanoparticles on the surface of BO microrods. Their piezo-photocatalytic performance and mechanism was elucidated through the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP). It is revealed that the ternary heterostructures exhibit obviously enhanced photocatalysis under illumination of simulated sunlight; typically the photocatalytic activity of the 2 %Pt/9%BTO/BO sample is improved by 8.2 and 2.4 times over that of single BTO and BO, respectively. This phenomenon originates from the improved separation of photocarriers by the BTO/BO and Pt/BO interface fields. More interestingly, when simulated-sunlight illumination was accompanied with ultrasonic vibration, the piezo-photocatalysis of 2 %Pt/9%BTO/BO shows a further improvement in the CIP degradation. The coupled piezo-photocatalysis shows a synergistic enhancement factor SF = 2.64. Efficient separation of bulk photocarriers, which is caused by ultrasonic-induced piezoelectric polarization field, is the main reason for the elevated piezo-photocatalysis. Additionally, the decomposition process of CIP and potential toxicity of substances generated during the CIP degradation process were elucidated.

Suppressing the self-discharge of high-frequency supercapacitors using electrolytes containing BaTiO3 nanoparticles

High-frequency supercapacitors (HF–SCs) are promising electric energy storage devices and alternating current line filters. However, severe self-discharge of HF–SCs causes significant energy loss and limits their applications. Current self-discharge suppression methods for supercapacitors typically lead to decreased rate performance and hence cannot be applied to HF–SCs directly. In this work, barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles are employed as an electrolyte additive for HF–SCs to reduce self-discharge. By adding BTO nanoparticles into the electrolyte, both leakage current and decay of open circuit voltage of the devices are reduced without sacrificing the specific capacitance and high-frequency response. At a charging voltage of 2 V, the leakage current is reduced by 49 % (3.91 vs. 1.98 μA), while the time for the voltage to drop from 2.0 to 1.0 V is extended by 4.5 times (2300 vs. 10240 sec). When the HF–SCs with BTO electrolyte are employed to store the energy generated by a triboelectric nanogenerator, the time for charging the cells to 2.0 V is reduced by 82 %. Mechanistic analysis indicates that the reduced self-discharge can be attributed to the fluid electrorheological effect and the enhanced localized electric field within the gaps among BTO nanoparticles that lead to sluggish diffusion and migration of reactive species, so the diffusion-controlled faradaic reaction process is suppressed.

Utilization of experimental and theoretical piezoresponse of BTO nanocrystal for rapid decomposition of the pathogenic coliform bacteria

Currently, more attention is being paid to new and innovative techniques for combating issues like the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains (MDRs), the proliferation of biofilms, and the failure of antibiotics. In order to combat this, scientists are nowadays exploring different activable and responsive materials. Nano-sized barium titanate is a material that has an excellent piezo-responsive nature. The synthesis of perovskite barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles by a nonconventional solvothermal method with exceptional piezo and ferroelectric properties is reported in this work. The synthesized BTO nanoparticles were well-characterized using different tools such as XRD, FTIR, TGA, electron microscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy, and the microstructure was analyzed using theoretical Rietveld refinement studies to substantiate the proper formation of the BTO nanostructure. Two different phases of BTO nanoparticles are observed after the refinement. Then, the piezoelectric effectiveness was further estimated by theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The catalytic behavior of the nanoparticles in bacteria has been studied for the degradation of Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis cells using an ultrasonically driven piezocatalytic effect. A promising value in bacterial eradication was depicted by the antibacterial efficacy observed herein, with a few minutes of soft ultrasound (15 kHz) generating an enormous number of reactive radicals (ROS). The result of this study could aid in generating new dimensions in antibacterial therapy.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bi4Ti3O12 Nanoparticles Obtained via Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids

Bismuth titanate (BTO) nanoparticles were obtained by pulsed laser ablation in liquid media (PLAL). Distilled water, ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone were used as media for laser ablation experiments, in which the colloidal solutions were obtained. Laser ablation was carried out using the second harmonic and fundamental wavelength of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (532 nm and 1064 nm, respectively) with laser fluences of 25 and 12 mJ/cm2, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized for morphological characterization. BTO nanoparticles obtained have spherical shapes with orthorhombic structure and the average size distribution depended on the liquid media nature. In alcohols, BTO NPs were spherical with a carbon layer around them. X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis absorption spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to confirm the structural, optical, and elemental properties of the ablated products. The presented results show that PLAL is a viable technique for the synthesis of high-quality BTO nanoparticles with enhanced optical properties for possible applications in photocatalysis.

Daily sonic toothbrush triggered biocompatible BaTiO3/chitosan multiporous coating with enhanced piezocatalysis for intraoral antibacterial activity

Pure titanium and its alloys are widely used in dental implants because of their excellent physical chemistry and biocompatibility properties, but their negligible antibacterial activity may lead to bacterial infection and implants failure. Inspired by the piezoelectricity and porous structure of living bone, a multiporous piezo-coating with barium titanate (BaTiO3, BTO) nanoparticles embedded in chitosan film is modified on acid-etched pure titanium. The surface of coating shows antibacterial effects and can be further improved under daily sonic toothbrush stimulation with an antibacterial rate of 90.41%. Interestingly, the planktonic bacteria around this coating also have low proliferation. The antibacterial mechanism may be BTO-mediated intracellular and extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). On the one hand, the contact potential difference (CPD) caused by the spontaneous polarization of BTO nanoparticles may destroy the intracellular electron transfer and lead to ROS burst. On the other hand, BTO could transfer mechanical energy to electrical energy under the stimulation of sonic toothbrushing (ST), then driving piezocatalytic effect to generate extracellular ROS. In addition, the piezo-coating also exhibits excellent biocompatibility to MC3T3-E1 cells, and promotes more hydroxyapatite deposition and plasma albumin adhesion. In summary, during the stimulation of daily sonic toothbrush, the bioinspired piezo-coating can effectively inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilm, which is a promising strategy to prevent dental implants infection in daily life.

Synthesis and optical characterization of Fe doped Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles

The perovskite family includes a variety of titanates used in a variety of electrical ceramic applications such as electronic, electro-optical and electro-mechanical ceramic applications. Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) is a member of a large family of compounds with the general formula ABO3 called perovskites. This paper includes the study of the properties of pristine and Iron (Fe) doped Barium Titante (BTO) at different concentrations synthesized using the sol–gel method. The concentration of dopants varies from 0 to 3 mol% in the specimens. The structural, surface morphology and optical properties of pure and Fe ion doped Barium Titanate nanoparticles have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Visible spectroscopy and Photoluminescence spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to study the structure and crystallite size of BTO nanoparticles. The results from X-Ray diffractogram shows that the particle size lies in the range 23 to 29 nm. Lattice strain of each samples were calculated using Williamson-Hall plot (WH plot). Bandgap energy of the samples were calculated using UV– Visible spectroscopy. For pristine BaTiO3 the bandgap is found to be 3.23 eV. It is observed that as the doping percentage increases the bandgap of the material decreases. Photoluminescence measurements revealed that the specimen show ultraviolet emission along with emission in blue region.

Enhanced Piezoelectricity of PVDF-TrFE Nanofibers by Intercalating with Electrosprayed BaTiO3.

Over the past few decades, flexible piezoelectric devices have gained increasing interest due to their wide applications as wearable sensors and energy harvesters. Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE), as one of piezoelectric polymers, has caught considerable attention because of its high flexibility, high thermal stability, and biocompatibility. However, its relatively lower piezoelectricity limits its broader applications. Herein, we present a new approach to improving the piezoelectricity of PVDF-TrFE nanofibers by integrating barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles. Instead of being directly dispersed into PVDF-TrFE nanofibers, the BTO nanoparticles were electrosprayed between the nanofiber layers to create a sandwich structure. The results showed that the sample with BTO sandwiched between PVDF-TrFE nanofibers showed a much higher piezoelectric output compared to the sample with BTO uniformly dispersed in the nanofibers, with a maximum of ∼ 457% enhancement. Simulation results suggested that the enhanced piezoelectricity is due to the larger strain induced in the BTO nanoparticles in the sandwich structure. Additionally, BTO might be better poled during electrospraying with higher field strength, which is also believed to contribute to enhanced piezoelectricity. The potential of the piezoelectric nanofiber mats as a sensor for measuring biting force and as a sensor array for pressure mapping was demonstrated.

High-k Solution-Processed Barium Titanate/Polysiloxane Nanocomposite for Low-Temperature Ferroelectric Thin-Film Transistors.

Ferroelectric nanoparticles have attracted much attention for numerous electronic applications owing to their nanoscale structure and size-dependent behavior. Barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles with two different sizes (20 and 100 nm) were synthesized and mixed with a polysiloxane (PSX) polymer forming a nanocomposite solution for high-k nanodielectric films. Transition from the ferroelectric to paraelectric phase of BTO with different nanoparticle dimensions was evaluated through variable-temperature X-ray diffraction measurement accompanied by electrical analysis using capacitor structures. A symmetric single 200 peak was constantly detected at different measurement temperatures for the 20 nm BTO sample, marking a stable cubic crystal structure. 100 nm BTO on the other hand shows splitting of 200/002 peaks correlating to a tetragonal crystal form which further merged, thus forming a single 200 peak at higher temperatures. Smaller BTO dimension exhibits clockwise hysteresis in capacitance-voltage measurement and correlates to a cubic crystal structure which possesses paraelectric properties. Bigger BTO dimension in contrast, demonstrates counterclockwise hysteresis owing to their tetragonal crystal form. Through further Rietveld refinement analysis, we found that the tetragonality (c/a) of 100 nm BTO decreases at a higher temperature which narrows the hysteresis window. A wider hysteresis window was observed when utilizing 100 nm BTO compared to 20 nm BTO even at a lower loading ratio. The present findings imply different hysteresis mechanisms for BTO nanoparticles with varying dimensions which is crucial in understanding the role of how the BTO size tunes the crystal structures for integration in thin-film transistor devices.

Ultrasound-driven BaTiO 3 nanorobots patching immunologic barrier to cure chronic rheumatoid arthritis

The disruption and reconstruction of the TREM2⁺ tissue resident macrophage (TRM) barrier on the surface of synovial lining play a key role in the activation and "remission" of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which engender the prediction of this immunologic barrier as a potential driver for the achievement of "cure" in RA. However, strategies to promote the reconstruction of this barrier have not been reported, and the effect of patching this barrier remains unidentified. On the other hand, appropriate piezoelectric stimulation can reprogram macrophages, which has never been exerted on this barrier TRM yet. Herein, we design piezoelectric tetragonal BaTiO₃ (BTO) ultrasound-driven nanorobots (USNRs) by the solvothermal synthesis method, which demonstrates satisfactory electro-mechanical conversion effects, paving the way to generate controllable electrical stimulation under ultrasound to reprogram the barrier TRM by minimally invasive injection into joint cavity. It is demonstrated that the immunologic barrier could be patched by this USNR effectively, thereby eliminating the hyperplasia of vessels and nerves (HVN) and synovitis. Additionally, TREM2 deficiency serum-transfected arthritis (STA) mice models are applied and proved the indispensable role of TREM2 in RA curing mediated by USNR. In all, our work is an interesting and important exploration to expand the classical tetragonal BTO nanoparticles in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, providing a new idea and direction for the biomedical application of piezoelectric ceramics.

Preparation and investigation of nanogenerators based on the flexible BTO/P(VDF‐TrFE) composites

AbstractIn this article, a piezoelectric thin film was obtained by mixing polyvinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene (P(VDF‐TrFE)) and barium titanate (BTO) via a solvent vaporization process. All the morphologies, crystal phases, thermal and electrical tests, as well as potential simulations by COMSOL, were studied to analyze sample performances. It has been demonstrated that BTO has a positive effect on increasing the piezoelectric functional phase‐β phase within P(VDF‐TrFE). Furthermore, the optimal ratio of BTO to P(VDF‐TrFE) was determined to be 10 wt%. BTO nanoparticles were evenly distributed in the P(VDF‐TrFE) substrate, forming a more directional structure. Based on the most suitable material composition, piezoelectric, and triboelectric nanogenerators were constructed to harvest mechanical energy from human motions. Moreover, the factors influencing the electrical outputs of nanogenerators were systematically studied, such as the force values and frequencies of excitation, as well as the piezoelectric layer materials. The applications of lighting LEDs highlighted the practical use in everyday life. Finally, the comparison between simulations, theoretical analysis, and experimental results demonstrated the effect of BTO in enhancing the overall material properties. This work expands the application potential of piezoelectric nanocomposites in energy collection and storage by designing and optimizing ceramic‐doped piezoelectric polymer composites.

Genetically Engineering Cell Membrane-Coated BTO Nanoparticles for MMP2-Activated Piezocatalysis-Immunotherapy.

Tumor immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) still suffers from low host response rate and non-specific distribution of immune checkpoint inhibitors, greatly compromising the therapeutic efficiency. Herein, cellular membrane stably expressing matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2)-activated PD-L1 blockades is engineered to coat ultrasmall barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticle for overcoming the immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumors. The resulting M@BTO NPs can significantly promote the BTO's tumor accumulation, while the masking domains on membrane PD-L1 antibodies are cleaved when exposure to MMP2 highly expressed in tumor. With ultrasound (US)irradiation, M@BTO NPs can simultaneously generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and O2 based on BTO mediated piezocatalysis and water splitting, significantly promoting the intratumoral infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and improving the PD-L1 blockade therapy to the tumor, resulting in effective tumor growth inhibition and lung metastasis suppression in a melanoma mouse model. This nanoplatform combines MMP2-activated genetic editing cell membrane with US responsive BTO for both immune stimulation and specific PD-L1 inhibition, providing a safe and robust strategy in enhancing immune response against tumor.

Triboelectric Nanogenerators Based on Membranes Comprised of Polyurethane Fibers Loaded with Ethyl Cellulose and Barium Titanate Nanoparticles

High performance is always the research objective in developing triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for future versatile applications. In this study, a flexible ethyl cellulose/thermoplastic polyurethane (EC/TPU) nanofiber triboelectric layer with barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles is proposed for high-performance TENGs, in which electrospun EC/TPU nanofiber membranes supply the high-roughness friction surfaces and piezoelectric BTO nanoparticles are further incorporated to boost the electric outputs by the synergistic effect of piezoelectricity and triboelectricity. Consequently, when the content of the BTO nanoparticle is 8 wt % in the EC/TPU (1:4 in weight ratio) nanofibers, the composite membrane displayed a stress of 9.25 MPa and a strain of 275.2%. The corresponding TENG achieves electric outputs of 125.8 V, 34.1 μA, and 1.68 W/m2, much higher than those of an individual piezoelectric nanogenerator or TENG. The TENGs are potentially used to supply energy for commercial LEDs and microelectronics and as self-powered sensors to monitor human physical training conditions. This research provides a guideline for developing TENGs with high performance, which is crucial for their long-term use.

Superior electromagnetic wave absorption performances of 3D porous, ultra-thin lightweight BaTiO3@rGO aerogel

Recently, non-magnetic carbon-based composite has been regarded as one of the most promising electromagnetic wave absorbing (EMWA) materials. How to realize high EMWA performances at ultra-thin matching thickness is a hot research topic. In this study, a strategy to construct three-dimensional (3D) porous BaTiO3@reduced graphene oxide (BTO@rGO) composite aerogel was performed by successively hydrothermal process, chemical reduction and freeze-drying. The results show that defect-rich BTO nanoparticles are dispersedly immobilized into 3D conductive rGO framework by a form of Ba2+ bonding to rGO, enhancing conduction loss and dipole polarization, which contributes to enhanced EMWA performance. As a result, a minimum reflection loss of −50.49 dB with a matching thickness of only 1.46 mm, along with an effective absorption bandwidth of 3.74 GHz (13.07 GHz–16.81 GHz) with a matching thickness of only 1.39 mm, is achieved for 3D porous BTO@rGO composite aerogel. Therefore, this study paves a way for designing and preparing excellent non-magnetic EMWA materials at ultra-thin matching thickness.

Flexible Polymer-Based Nanodielectrics Reinforced with Electrospun Composite Nanofibers for Capacitive Energy Storage

Nanocomposite materials based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) reinforced by electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers and barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles were fabricated and tested as dielectric materials for capacitive energy storage applications. Two types of BTO nanoparticles were examined, prior and after ball milling, to investigate the effect of interfacial area and size on the dielectric properties. The morphology of the produced PVDF nanofibers was evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to ensure the optimum electrospinning conditions and verify the incorporation of BTO nanoparticles. The composite systems were analyzed by dielectric spectroscopy, and three dielectric processes were revealed: the dynamic glass-to-rubber transition processes of PDMS and PVDF and an interfacial polarization process. It was observed that the dynamic glass-to-rubber transition process of the PVDF nanofibers strongly depends on the size of the BTO nanoparticles that introduce confinement effects and affect thus the temperature dependence of the relaxation. In addition, as verified by ac conductivity, ball milling reduced the conduction of the nanocomposites by 80%, indicating the increase of the charge carrier trapping area around the BTO nanoparticles. Finally, the developed nanocomposites were tested as dielectric materials for capacitor applications at room temperature conducting charge/discharge measurements under the influence of a dc electric field, and their discharge performance and efficiency were examined at various dc voltages (50–300 V) and cycle life. Here, experimental evidence regarding the importance of interfacial area on the energy storage performance in nanodielectrics is presented that will aid the development of more efficient energy materials.

Eu(III)–BaTiO3 nanoparticles and BaTiO3/TiO2/Ti sheets; photocatalytic and electrocatalytic CO2 reduction

Perovskite barium titanate (BaTiO3, BTO) has shown a high potential as catalysts. Eu(III) ion has been employed as a unique red-luminescence activator in a host metal oxide. Herein, Eu(III)-doped BTO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized, and their photocatalytic CO2 reduction activities and products were examined. Major CO2 reduction products were observed to be CH3OH, CO, and CH4. Doped Eu(III) ions were used as a tracer to discuss the roles of dopants by measuring photoluminescence (PL) properties and PL lifetimes. Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction performances were evaluated using BTO electrodes directly grown on a TiO2/Ti sheet, and Cu-deposited BTO electrodes. H2 was a major product and formate was significantly increased upon Cu deposition on the surface. Surface oxidation states of BTO with dopant concentration and overlayer Cu metal were fully discussed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surface electronic structure was altered by doping and metal deposition, and thereby the selectivity and productivity for CO2 reduction were varied. The unique physicochemical properties and CO2 reduction demonstration tests provide significant information on understanding CO2 reduction mechanism and the development of BTO-based catalysts for energy and environment.

Screen Printing of Surface-Modified Barium Titanate/Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanocomposites for High-Performance Flexible Piezoelectric Nanogenerators.

Piezoelectric energy harvesters are appealing for the improvement of wearable electronics, owing to their excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Herein, screen-printed piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) are developed from triethoxy(octyl)silane-coated barium titanate/polyvinylidene fluoride (TOS-BTO/PVDF) nanocomposites with excellent performance based on the important link between material, structure, and performance. In order to minimize the effect of nanofiller agglomeration, TOS-coated BTO nanoparticles are anchored onto PVDF. Thus, composites with well-distributed TOS-BTO nanoparticles exhibit fewer defects, resulting in reduced charge annihilation during charge transfer from inorganic nanoparticles to the polymer. Consequently, the screen-printed TOS-BTO/PVDF PENG exhibits a significantly enhanced output voltage of 20 V, even after 7500 cycles, and a higher power density of 15.6 μW cm−2, which is 200 and 150% higher than those of pristine BTO/PVDF PENGs, respectively. The increased performance of TOS-BTO/PVDF PENGs is due to the enhanced compatibility between nanofillers and polymers and the resulting improvement in dielectric response. Furthermore, as-printed devices could actively adapt to human movements and displayed excellent detection capability. The screen-printed process offers excellent potential for developing flexible and high-performance piezoelectric devices in a cost-effective and sustainable way.

Investigating the dielectric constant of barium titanate in a polymer-matrix nanocomposite

Barium titanate (BTO) is a ferroelectric material used in capacitors because of its high bulk dielectric constant. However, the impact of the size of BTO on its dielectric constant is not yet fully understood and is highly contested. Here, we present an investigation into the dielectric constant of BTO nanoparticles with diameters ranging between 50 and 500 nm. BTO nanoparticles were incorporated into acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and injection molded into parallel plate capacitors, which were used to determine nanocomposite dielectric constants. The dielectric constants of BTO nanoparticles were obtained by combining experimental measurements with computational results from COMSOL simulations of ABS-matrix nanocomposites containing BTO. The dielectric constant of BTO was observed to be relatively constant at nanoparticle diameters as small as 200 nm but sharply declined at smaller nanoparticle sizes. These results will be useful in the development of improved energy storage and power conditioning systems utilizing BTO nanoparticles.Graphical abstract

Fully Printed Flexible Piezoelectric Nanogenerators with Triethoxyvinylsilane (TEVS) Coated Barium Titanate (BTO) Nanoparticles for Energy Harvesting and Self‐Powered Sensing

AbstractThe improvement of wearable electronics is making energy harvesters appealing, as they lessen the requirement for regular recharge of wearable gadgets. In this work, fully printed, flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) with excellent performance are created using a 3D printing technology. This fully‐printing method is based on triethoxyvinylsilane (TEVS) coated barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles, polyvinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene (PVDF–TrFE), and silver electrode for additive manufacturing. The organic vinyl silane (VS) functional groups, which form a strong bond between inorganic nanoparticles and polymer, contribute to the homogeneous dispersion of BTO nanoparticles in the matrix. Consquently, these fully printed VS–BTO/PVDF–TrFE PENGs outperform their untreated counterpart in terms of output voltage and power density, with a higher output voltage of 54 V even after 13 500 cycles and a higher power density of 28.5 µW cm−2. In practice, as‐printed devices may actively adapt to human movement and detect the pulse from multipoint mechanical activity identification. The fully printed PENGs developed in this work show excellent potential to be used in wearable electronics for a new generation of sensing applications.