Flexible electroactive <scp>PVDF</scp>/<scp>ZnO</scp> nanocomposite with high output power and current density
Akash M. Chandran, S. Varun, Prasanna Kumar S. Mural
Abstract
Abstract In the present study, a lightweight and flexible polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite was prepared using a low‐temperature phase‐inversion process. The synergetic effect of low‐temperature, phase‐inversion, and the integration of ZnO nanoparticles primes on enhancing the electroactive polar β‐phase in the nanocomposite. The transformation of the electroactive phase and its quantification were carried out using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The PVDF/ZnO piezoelectric polymer nanocomposite was utilized for energy harvesting application that showed a better electromechanical response of ca. 69 V (peak to peak) at ~1.6 N, 250 μW/cm 2 surface power density and 0.25 mA/cm 2 surface current density. The fabricated piezoelectric polymer nanocomposite is a possible candidate for superior energy scavenging applications for capturing human kinematics.