Tailoring asymmetrical piezoelectric responses in PVDF-TrFE composites for advanced energy storage applications

Abstract

This study explores the phenomenon of asymmetrical piezoelectric output in Polyvinylidene Fluoride-Trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) based piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs), which have significant implications for improving the efficiency of energy harvesting devices, particularly in charging advanced energy storage applications. By leveraging the viscoelastic properties of PVDF-TrFE, we demonstrate pronounced asymmetry in piezoelectric output when the force frequency surpasses the polymer's natural recovery time, explicitly using an applied force of 60 N at frequencies ranging from 0.3 Hz to 1.25 Hz. These finding sheds light on the dynamic behavior of piezoelectric polymers under high-frequency stimuli and opens avenues for designing advanced energy harvesting devices.