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

Abstract 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.