A ferroelectric nanocomposite-film-based device for harvesting energy from water droplets using both piezoelectric and triboelectric effects

In this paper, we have demonstrated a novel design of a liquid-solid interface triboelectric nanogenerator based on a ZnO- polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) flexible ferroelectric film that employs both piezoelectric and triboelectric properties to produce more electricity from water droplets. The present device gives an output voltage of similar to 1.32 V and a short-circuit current of similar to 0.32 mu A from the conventional liquid-solid triboelectric nanogenerator (LSTENG), while an additional open-circuit voltage of similar to 2.72 mV and short-circuit current of similar to 20 nA is generated from the piezoelectric effect. The mechanism for generating energy in both the piezoelectric and triboelectric components is also discussed. Furthermore, we explored the effect of ions in water on the performance of the LSTENG, and the results were confirmed by Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements. The current work reveals a new LSTENG design and the benefit of employing a ferroelectric polymer as the contacting material rather than other non-piezoelectric materials for the LSTENG.

Automated summary

This paper presents a novel design of a liquid-solid interface triboelectric nanogenerator utilizing a ZnO-PVDF flexible ferroelectric film to generate more electricity from water droplets. The study also explores the influence of ions in water on the device performance and discusses the mechanisms behind energy generation in both the piezoelectric and triboelectric components.