Publication

Abstract : In this article, we report on an energy-harvesting device using a hybrid flexible polymer nanocomposite as a tribo–piezo layer for energy generation. Piezoelectric nano zinc oxide (ZnO) and exfoliated graphene oxide (EGO) are used with a piezoelectric poly­(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P­(VDF-TrFE)) polymer matrix to prepare the energy-generating layer. An enhancement of the β phase in P­(VDF-TrFE) is achieved by the method used for film preparation and the addition of ceramic nanoparticles to the matrix. The devices are tested under manual and mechanical tapping to generate electrical energy which is stored in a commercial capacitor. The fabricated hybrid polymer nanocomposite device generated 2.27 V (manual tapping), 11.6 V (qualitative analysis), and 28.3 V (quantitative analysis). Knock sensing action of the prototype device is also demonstrated. The hybrid polymer nanocomposite device with excellent touch sensitivity that is lightweight with distinguished energy-generating efficiency can be used in the self-powered energy-harvesting electronic devices of tomorrow.