Transparent flexible graphene quantum dot-(PVDF-HFP) piezoelectric nanogenerator

• Published in: Materials letters 2021-05, Vol.290, p.129493, Article 129493
• Main Authors: Badatya, Simadri, Kumar, Anil, Sharma, Charu, Srivastava, Avanish Kumar, Chaurasia, Jamana Prasad, Gupta, Manoj Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy storage and conversion; Nanocomposites; Piezoelectric materials
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2021.129493

[Display omitted] •Graphene quantum dot (GQDs) was synthesized by chemical exfoliation method.•β-phase formation in PVDF-HFP was achieved by reinforcement of GQDs.•Transparent and flexible piezoelectric GQDs/PVDF-HFP nanogenerator was fabricated for first time.•The GQDs/PVDF-HFP exhibits very high output voltage of 6 V and current 25 nA.•Real time power generation was demonstrated under human body movements. Herein, we report highly sensitive graphene quantum dot (GQDs) reinforced poly (vinylidene fluoride)-co-hexafluoride propylene (PVDF-HFP) based flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator for the first time. Formation of β-phase in GQDs /PVDF-HFP composite film was confirmed using XRD diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy techniques. Flexible transparent piezoelectric nanogenerator fabricated from the GQDs/PVDF-HFP composite film exhibits very high output voltage of 6 V and output current of 25 nA compared to signal generated from pristine PVDF-HFP nanogenerator. The drastic improvement in the PVDF-HFP may be attributed to the alignment of electric dipoles induced by the local electric field cause by conductive GQDs. Performance of GQDs/PVDF-HFP has also been real time demonstrated as self-powered human breathing and finger movement sensors which make it suitable for promising wearable energy harvester and for powering nanosystems.