Biodegradable TMCM-CdCl3/polylactic acid composites for piezoelectric energy harvesting

Abstract

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) have attracted extensive attention due to their unique piezoelectric properties, mild synthesis conditions, and structural flexibility. However, the intrinsic rigidity and poor biodegradability of HOIPs limit their applications in flexible wearable devices. In this work, we integrate HOIPs (TMCM-CdCl₃) (TMCM, trimethylchloromethyl ammonium; Cd, Cadmium; Cl, chloride) with biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) to fabricate flexible composite films that simultaneously maintain excellent piezoelectric properties, provide the mechanical flexibility needed for wearable devices, and overcome the environmental limitations of conventional non-degradable polymers. The composite film exhibits optimal properties, achieving a short-circuit current (I_SC) of 1.74 μA, an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 4.35 V, and a peak power density of 1.47 × 10⁻⁶ W/cm² under a 5 N force. Furthermore, the composite film exhibits robust mechanical flexibility and cyclic stability, maintaining stability over 10,000 bending cycles, which positions it as a promising candidate for flexible wearable devices with broad application prospects.