Natural fibers for performance boosting of BaTiO3-PDMS flexible piezoelectric composite generators

Among biobased materials, date palm leaf fiber (DPLF) is a cellulose-rich fiber with considerable potential for use in sustainable composites, where it can improve mechanical properties and reduce weight. In this study, a flexible piezoelectric generator (PEG) composed of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer, lead-free barium titanate ( BaTiO 3 ), and DPLF are presented. A comparative analysis assessed the impact of incorporating DPLF through morphological, mechanical, and electrical evaluations. The results indicate that DPLF improves the performance of the PEG while maintaining desirable mechanical properties, such as flexibility and durability. The improved performance can be attributed to the enhanced dielectric properties, robustness, and distribution of the piezoceramic particles. PEG (5 wt% DPLF + 15 wt% BaTiO 3 ) exhibits a maximum open-circuit voltage twice that of 15 wt% BaTiO 3 PEG (6 V) and an eightfold higher power density (8 μ W/ cm 2 ). These findings result from an increased dielectric constant of 6.8 and a favorable capacitance of 30 pF. Incorporating cellulose-rich DPLF significantly impacts the electromechanical performance of the PDMS/ BaTiO 3 -DPLF composite due to several beneficial effects, including good particle dispersion, sustainability, improved homogeneity, and improved dielectric properties. • DPLF used as additive in advanced generators. • PEG composites characterized to improve energy harvesting efficiency. • Dielectric and piezoelectric tests done; human motion applications developed. • 15% BaTiO 3 + 5% DPLF in PDMS show higher dielectric and piezoelectric properties. • Strategy to valorize organic waste in electronics and smart tech devices.