Morphotropic phase boundary-based BaTi0.89Sn0.11O3 filler induced polarization tuned P(VDF-TrFE) composites as efficient piezo-tribo hybrid nanogenerators

Abstract

Here we develop a novel P(VDF-TrFE)-based composite system by incorporating a multiphasic BaTi_0.89Sn_0.11O₃ (BTS) filler in its matrix. Though the amount of polar phase of P(VDF-TrFE) has not been significantly affected by the BTS filler, the filler has shown the ability to greatly tune the dielectric permittivity and ferroelectric polarization of the host polymer matrix. This result was attributed to the interfacial interaction of the BTS surface with P(VDF-TrFE) dipoles and the individual high dielectric permittivity, ferroelectric polarization, and piezoelectric coefficient of the filler. The individual high piezoelectric coefficient of BTS has led to the enhancement of the piezoelectric energy harvesting performance of the composite films. 15 wt% BTS loaded P(VDF-TrFE) (BTS15W) has shown the highest piezoelectric energy harvesting performance with average output open circuit voltage (V_OC) ∼ 64 V, short circuit current (I_SC) ∼ 15 μA, and power density ∼118 μW cm⁻². On the other hand, this film has exhibited the highest dielectric permittivity and ferroelectric polarization, which have led to its high triboelectric performance too. The contact-separation mode piezo-tribo hybrid device made up of this composite (BTS15W) has shown a very high output performance with V_OC, I_SC, and power density of ∼195 V, 25 μA, and 430 μW cm⁻², respectively. The mechanism of this enhanced hybrid energy harvesting has also been explained here in terms of several factors. Due to their high output performances, both piezoelectric and hybrid devices have shown excellent applicability in powering small electronics and in versatile mechanosensing.