Stretchable, Breathable, and Stable Lead-Free Perovskite/Polymer Nanofiber Composite for Hybrid Triboelectric and Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

Halide-perovskite-based mechanical energy harvesters display excellent electrical output due to their unique ferroelectricity and dielectricity. However, their high toxicity and moisture sensitivity impede their practical applications. Herein, a stretchable, breathable, and stable nanofiber composite (LPPS-NFC) is fabricated through electrospinning of lead-free perovskite/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS). The Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskites serve as efficient electron acceptors and local nucleating agents for the crystallization of polymer chains, thereby enhancing the electron-trapping capacity and polar crystalline phase in LPPS-NFC. The excellent energy level matching between Cs3Bi2Br9 and PVDF-HFP boosts the electron transfer efficiency and reduces the charge loss, thereby promoting the electron-trapping process. Consequently, this LPPS-NFC-based energy harvester displays an excellent electrical output (400 V, 1.63 mu A cm(-2), and 2.34 W m(-2)), setting a record of the output voltage among halide-perovskite-based nanogenerators. The LPPS-NFC also exhibits excellent stretchability, waterproofness, and breathability, enabling the fabrication of robust wearable devices that convert mechanical energy from different biomechanical motions into electrical power to drive common electronic devices. The LPPS-NFC-based energy harvesters also endure extreme mechanical deformations (washing, folding, and crumpling) without performance degradation, and maintain stable electrical output up to 5 months, demonstrating their promising potential for use as smart textiles and wearable power sources.

Automated summary

This study presents a lead-free perovskite-based nanofiber composite (LPPS-NFC) as a stretchable, breathable, and stable material for energy harvesting. The LPPS-NFC demonstrates excellent electrical output and mechanical properties, making it a promising material for wearable devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical power.