Enhanced Flexible Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluorethylene) Piezoelectric Nanogenerators by SnSe Nanosheet Doping and Solvent Treatment

Organic piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) with light weight, good flexibility, and simple processing are promising in mechanical energy conversion. Here, a high-output polymer PENG composed of a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluorethylene)/SnSe nanosheet (NS) nanocomposite film has been fabricated and tested. After a treatment with mixed solvents of N,N-dimethylformamide and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TCE), the optimal nanocomposite PENG exhibits high piezoelectric properties with a piezoelectric coefficient (d(33)) of 25.06 pC.N-1, a prominent open-circuit voltage (V-oc) of 15.36 V.cm(-2), and a short-circuit current (I-s(c)) of 1.02 mu A.cm(-2). Moreover, the PENG can generate an output power density of up to 10.72 mu W.cm(-2) under a vertical force of 50 N. The attractive piezoelectric performance results from the doping of SnSe NSs with a high piezoelectric coefficient and also the increased beta-phase ascribed to the introduction of nucleating agent NSs and the TCE solvent. The PENGs reveal great application potentials in consumer electronics.

Automated summary

Organic piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) with high piezoelectric properties and output power density have great potential for applications in consumer electronics.