Sustainable and superior polymeric piezoelectric nanogenerator for sensing human body vibration, air flow, and water wave

Abstract

A simple, lightweight, cost-effective, bio-compatible, and highly sensitive piezoelectric nanogenerator has been sketched in a sustainable manner using naturally available clay, i.e., kaolinite doped poly(vinylidene fluoride) film. The developed nanogenerator is able to produce electrical signals by capturing a very small mechanical signal of our living systems. Very low mechanical impulse due to human body vibration, air flow, and water wave has been well adsorbed by our fabricated piezoelectric nanogenerator to generate electrical output signals. The device generates output voltages (peak to peak) of ∼1.4 V, 325 mV, and 230 mV under human body vibration, air flow, and water wave, respectively. Moreover, under gentle finger impartation (force, ∼12.5 N), the device can generate an open circuit voltage of ∼45 V and a short circuit current of ∼2.9 μA. The results remain almost same for a long tested time duration (∼12 months). The power density is calculated to be 43.5 mW/cm³. A capacitor (∼1 μF) is charged up to ∼2.8 V within 18 s, and several LEDs are lightened using our device as an energy supplier.