PVDF/PANi@HNT Nanocomposite Membranes: Pioneering Solutions for Piezoelectric Sensing and Energy Harvesting Efficiency

Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) based on electrospun membranes hold significant promise for applications in wearable electronics, biomedicine, and multifunction sensors. The evolution of composite fiber membranes can effectively address the challenges of low output power and poor stability in PENGs. Herein, a composite structured polyaniline-coated halloysite nanotube (PANi@HNT) was synthesized through oxidative polymerization. These composite nanomaterials were effectively dispersed within poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) due to the high conductivity of polyaniline and the surface charge they carry. Consequently, the agglomeration of composite fibers during electrospinning was mitigated, resulting in a significantly reduced dielectric loss and improved piezoelectric properties of the composite membranes. Notably, PENGs incorporating 15% PANi@HNT achieved an impressive output voltage of 90 V and demonstrated stable performance over 10,000 cycles, with peak power density reaching a maximum of 116.42 μW/cm². Such PENGs show promise for applications in human movement monitoring as well as energy harvesting, storage, and utilization. Specifically, the generated output from PENGs can induce regular flickering in a light strip consisting of 0.2 W light beads as well as continuous illumination of a light board comprising 0.05 W red LEDs. Moreover, with brief energy storage, the PENG is capable of driving an electronic watch.