Polyvinylidene Fluoride, ZnO, and Graphene Composite Spin Coating for Piezoelectric Nanogenerators

This study investigates the production and characterization of a new composite material made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), zinc oxide (ZnO), and graphene(G) for use in spin-coating applications for piezoelectric nanogenerators. Chemical synthesis techniques that are significantly easier and less expensive have been used to create composite polymer membranes with a dominant β-crystalline phase. Using the spin coating technique, a composite film that acted as a piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) was made. The characteristics of these formations were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Using an oscilloscope, the electrical characteristics of the film were evaluated. As recurrent mechanical stress is given to the composite membranes in various modes, such as tapping and hitting machines, the conversion of mechanical to electrical energy is seen by monitoring the output voltage. In each mode of mechanical stress, the self-poled β-crystalline tri-phase PVDF-ZnO-G composite membranes outperform all other composites in terms of energy harvesting, making them appropriate for flexible nanogenerators.