Fabrication of rare earth-doped ZnO-PVDF flexible nanocomposite films for ferroelectric response and their application in piezo-responsive bending sensors

Abstract

The present study covers the fabrication of flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators and their application towards sustainable power generation. The rod-like structure of erbium-doped ZnO (EZ) nanoparticles prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis route was successfully incorporated inside the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix using the solution casting method. Solution casting is an easy and cost-effective method for fabricating laminated, thin, flexible and lightweight EZ-PVDF nanocomposite films. The formation of the desired crystallographic phase of EZ-PVDF nanocomposite films and the presence of rod-like EZ nanoparticles inside the PVDF matrix were confirmed using X-ray diffraction and FESEM. The enhancement of the β-phase fraction of the EZ-PVDF nanocomposite films as compared to bare PVDF was estimated using FTIR spectroscopy. The presence of a ferroelectric phase in the EZ-PVDF nanocomposite films was found due to the formation of a large area of interfaces between the EZ nanoparticles and the PVDF matrix. The maximum polarizations of 0.00696 μC cm⁻² and 0.00683 μC cm⁻² for two samples (EZP1 and EZP2, respectively) were observed at an electric field of 1.25 kV cm⁻¹. The piezoelectric voltages were observed at relatively low frequencies for both nanocomposite films. The maximum piezoelectric voltages of 18.9 V and 15.5 V were observed at a 1 Hz frequency for EZP1 and EZP2, respectively. The output piezoelectric current of 16.88 mA and the maximum power density of 7773.68 W m⁻³ for EZP1 ensure its potential as an efficient piezoelectric nanogenerator with greater efficiency than those reported previously in published articles. The change in the piezoelectric voltage response of the nanocomposite films as a function of mechanical movement of human external body parts renders them the most suitable candidate for human–machine interfacing (HMI) applications, such as bending sensors and human motion sensors.