Fast charging self-powered wearable and flexible asymmetric supercapacitor power cell with fish swim bladder as an efficient natural bio-piezoelectric separator

• Published in: Nano energy 2017-10, Vol.40, p.633-645
• Main Authors: Maitra, Anirban, Karan, Sumanta Kumar, Paria, Sarbaranjan, Das, Amit Kumar, Bera, Ranadip, Halder, Lopamudra, Si, Suman Kumar, Bera, Aswini, Khatua, Bhanu Bhusan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asymmetric supercapacitor; Natural bio-piezoelectric separator; Self-charging; Wearable
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.08.057

Fabrication of environmental friendly, compact and wearable electronic device using a flexible substrate that synchronously harvests and stores energy by the co-ordination of a conventional energy harvesting and storage mechanism in a single portable device is highly essential to design modern electronics. Here, for the first time, we highlight the fabrication of a natural bio-piezoelectric driven self-charging asymmetric supercapacitor (SCASC) power cell consisting of nickel-cobalt double hydroxide nanoplies decorated copper oxide nanoflakes substantially grown on a flexible copper foil (NiCoOH-CuO@Cu foil) as a binder free positive electrode and reduced graphene oxide coated copper foil (RGO@Cu foil) as negative electrode with a PVA–KOH gel electrolyte soaked perforated fish swim bladder as natural bio-piezoelectric separator (BPES). The prompt and self-charging behavior of the power cell was established by mechanically deforming it under human finger imparting and by several casual natural body motions. The rectification-free SCASC device can be charged up to 281.3mV from its initial open circuit potential (~130.1mV) in ~80s under continuous human finger imparting at a frequency of 1.65Hz. Moreover, eight serially connected SCASC devices can instantaneously light-up four red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and power-up various portable electronic appliances on frequent imparting. Thus, the light-weight SCASC with unique design resembles its desirability for future generation smart and wearable electronics. A fast and self-charging all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor power cell (SCASC) is fabricated employing the dual functionality of fish swim bladder as natural separator and bio-piezoelectric nanogenerator. The flexible SCASC can be efficaciously charged either electrically or by applying mechanical deformations. Eight serially connected SCASC can power-up several portable electronic gadgets and LEDs upon repeated finger imparting. [Display omitted] •Self-powered supercapacitor with a bio-piezoelectric separator has been fabricated.•The device reveals outstanding electrochemical performance and cyclic stability.•The device can be charged either by electrically or by mechanical deformations.•Eight devices in series can instantly powers up numerous electronic appliances.