ZnO@C/PVDF Electrospun Membrane as a Piezoelectric Nanogenerator for Wearable Applications

The rapid growth of wearable technology demands sustainable, flexible, and lightweight energy sources for various applications, ranging from health monitoring to electronic textiles. Although wearable devices based on the piezoelectric effect are widespread, achieving simultaneous breathability, waterproofness, and enhanced piezoelectric performance remains challenging. Herein, this study aims to develop a piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) using ZnO nanofillers in two morphologies (nanoparticles and nanorods) with a carbon coating (ZnO@C) core–shell structure to enhance piezoelectric performance. The electrospinning technique was employed to fabricate a lightweight, breathable, and water-resistant ZnO@C/PVDF membrane, enabling in situ electrical poling and mechanical stretching to enhance electroactive β-phase formation and thus improve piezoelectric performance. A maximum power density of 384.8 μW/cm3 was obtained at RL = 104 kΩ, with a maximum Vout = 19.9 V for ZnO@C nanorod-incorporated PVDF samples. The results demonstrate that ZnO@C nanorods exhibit superior voltage output due to their larger surface-to-volume ratio, leading to enhanced interaction with PVDF chains compared to nanoparticles. The fabricated membrane showed promising results with a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of ∼0.5 kg/m2/day, indicating excellent breathability, and a water contact angle of ∼116°, demonstrating significant waterproofness. These findings highlight the potential of the ZnO@C/PVDF electrospun membrane as an effective piezoelectric nanogenerator and energy harvester for wearable applications.