Back in the Spotlight: Metal Oxide-Based Electrospun PVDF Nanocomposites for TENGs

In recent years, the fabrication of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for energy-harvesting applications has seen a resurgence, particularly through the integration of metal oxide (MO)-based polymer nanocomposites (NCs). TENGs operate on the principles of electrostatic induction and triboelectrification to transform mechanical energy into electricity. Material selection plays an important role in optimizing TENG performance with polymers, metals, MOs, and other fillers commonly employed in triboelectric frictional layers. Ferroelectric materials such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) serve as frequently used host matrices for incorporating various organic and inorganic dopants. MOs act as effective dopants in the organic polymer matrix, significantly enhancing the dielectric properties, charge trapping, and mechanical strength, which are the key attributes for a high-performance triboelectric frictional layer. However, challenges such as low surface charge density and limited power conversion efficiency hinder their broader application in real-time energy harvesting. Electrospinning techniques address these issues by enabling the fabrication of one dimentional polymer NCs with enhanced surface area, mechanical flexibility, hydrophobicity, and functional integration. These features position TENGs as promising solutions for diverse energy management. This review highlights the material versatility, analyzing techniques, and strategic utilization of MO-based PVDF NCs in triboelectric frictional layers, spotlighting its transformative role in revolutionizing TENG performance and enabling next-generation energy solutions.