2024 | Karem Lozano Montero, Remmi Calvo Guzman, Amit Tewari, Haiyang Zou, Zhong Lin Wang, Matti Mäntysalo, and Mika-Matti Laurila
A novel triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on P(VDF-TrFE) porous aerogel is presented, combining freeze-casting, freeze-drying, and printing technologies. The study investigates the effects of porosity and poling on the stretchability and energy harvesting capabilities of P(VDF-TrFE), revealing that porous structures significantly enhance stretchability (from 7.7% to 66.4%) and output voltage (66% increase) compared to solid films. A fully printed TENG using stretchable materials achieves a peak power of 62.8 mW m⁻² and an average power of 9.9 mW m⁻² over 100 tapping cycles at 0.75 Hz, capable of illuminating LEDs through mechanical energy harvesting. The porous aerogel exhibits improved triboelectric performance, with a 60–70% increase in charge generation compared to solid films, attributed to its higher surface area. However, the porous film shows lower ferro- and piezoelectric performance due to inefficient poling, primarily caused by dielectric breakdown in pores. Despite this, the non-poled P(VDF-TrFE)/Ecoflex contact pair demonstrates favorable triboelectric performance, suitable for energy harvesting. The TENG is integrated with stretchable materials, showing a voltage of 105.6 V, charge of 35.8 nC, and peak power of 62.8 mW m⁻². The study highlights the potential of P(VDF-TrFE) porous aerogel for flexible and stretchable energy harvesting devices.A novel triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on P(VDF-TrFE) porous aerogel is presented, combining freeze-casting, freeze-drying, and printing technologies. The study investigates the effects of porosity and poling on the stretchability and energy harvesting capabilities of P(VDF-TrFE), revealing that porous structures significantly enhance stretchability (from 7.7% to 66.4%) and output voltage (66% increase) compared to solid films. A fully printed TENG using stretchable materials achieves a peak power of 62.8 mW m⁻² and an average power of 9.9 mW m⁻² over 100 tapping cycles at 0.75 Hz, capable of illuminating LEDs through mechanical energy harvesting. The porous aerogel exhibits improved triboelectric performance, with a 60–70% increase in charge generation compared to solid films, attributed to its higher surface area. However, the porous film shows lower ferro- and piezoelectric performance due to inefficient poling, primarily caused by dielectric breakdown in pores. Despite this, the non-poled P(VDF-TrFE)/Ecoflex contact pair demonstrates favorable triboelectric performance, suitable for energy harvesting. The TENG is integrated with stretchable materials, showing a voltage of 105.6 V, charge of 35.8 nC, and peak power of 62.8 mW m⁻². The study highlights the potential of P(VDF-TrFE) porous aerogel for flexible and stretchable energy harvesting devices.