Coupling of Triboelectric and Piezoelectric Effects in Nafion-Containing Polyvinylidene Fluoride: Lead Zirconium Titanate Nanofiber-Based Nanogenerators for Self-Powered Systems

The rapid advancement of nanocomposite materials for coupled triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators (TENG-PENG) has attracted considerable attention due to efficient mechanical energy harvesting in portable and self-powered systems. However, challenges persist due to the nonuniform distribution of guest materials within nanocomposites, resulting in limited surface potential and polarization properties. Here, we demonstrated the incorporation of Nafion into poly(vinylidene fluoride):lead zirconium titanate (PVDF:PZT) hybrid nanofibers, substantially enhancing the β phase. The surface potential of PVDF:PZT increased to 86 mV, representing a 21% increase over untreated PVDF, while stimulated PVDF:PZT-N hybrid nanofibers show a notable boost of ∼175 mV, increasing to 146% compared to PVDF. The hybrid PVDF:PZT-N exhibits a storage modulus of ∼306 Pa and electrospun hybrid nanofibers displays an elastic limit of ∼1.48 MPa. Furthermore, the efficacy of the PVDF:PZT-N nanofibers is validated through a comparative analysis between engineered single- and double-dielectric layered TENG-PENG devices, producing maximum output currents and voltages of ∼7 μA and ∼40 V, respectively. These TENG-PENG devices have demonstrated their potential to illuminate multiple light-emitting diodes and digital LED display boards. Overall, the incorporation of Nafion into PVDF:PZT nanofibers significantly enhances the output performance of synergistically integrated PENG and TENG systems, offering promising advancements in mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered electronic devices.