Energy harvesting by piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride/zinc oxide/carbon nanotubes composite under cyclic uniaxial tensile deformation

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/zinc oxide (ZnO)/carbon nanotubes (CNT) nano-reinforced composites were fabricated by solution casting method. Addition of ZnO and CNTs nanoparticles enhances the electroactive polar ss-phase of PVDF nanocomposites. Formation of ss-phase in the composites were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Piezoelectric properties were investigated by applying uniaxial cyclic tensile deformation with the help of mechanical tensile tester device. The maximum generated voltage peak of 1.32 V was observed in the case of the nano-reinforced composite having 15% ZnO, with maximum current of 0.61 mu A and power of 0.66 mu W. The fabricated PVDF/ ZnO/CNTs nano-reinforced composites can be a good candidate for human motion-based energy harvesting applications during walking, running and so forth in which uniaxial deformation occurs.