Eco-friendly nanogenerators with g-C3N4-doped PVDF-HFP films for sustainable energy harvesting

Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) are emerging as potential energy sources for powering wearable electronic devices and IoT applications by harvesting mechanical energy from the environment. In this study, a flexible PENG was fabricated using PVDF-HFP polymer films embedded with different weight percentages (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt%) of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanofillers. The structural and morphological properties of the fabricated films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirming the successful incorporation of g-C₃N₄. The nanocomposite films were assembled into PENG devices, and their output performance was evaluated through the application of the electrodynamic shaker. The results show a considerable enhancement in the open-circuit voltage of 21.2 V and the short-circuit current of 14.24 µA with increasing g-C₃N₄ content, compared to pure PVDF-HFP films. The improved performance is attributed to the influence of g-C₃N₄ nanofillers in promoting the electroactive phase in the polymer matrix. This work highlights the potential of g-C₃N₄-based PVDF-HFP nanocomposite films for developing efficient, flexible, and sustainable energy-harvesting devices for self-powered wearable electronics.