Flexible MXene/PVDF composite-based piezoelectric device (FPED) for dual applications in energy harvesting and smart IoT-driven gaming

Recent advances in energy harvesting and IoT technologies elevate the significance of flexible piezoelectric materials, particularly their dual role in energy generation and functioning as sensors in electronic devices. In this study, Ti₃C₂T${}_x$ (MXene), synthesized via in-situ chemical reactions and hydrothermal treatment, and integrated into a PVDF matrix to create a flexible MXene/PVDF composite device (FPED) using the solvent-casting method. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful integration of MXene into PVDF, resulting in an-enhanced flexible crystalline structure and significantly improved piezoelectric properties. The FPED exhibited higher piezoelectric performance (V${}_{OC}$ $\sim$ 7.98 V.) compared to the PVDF device (V${}_{OC}$ $\sim$ 2.02 V.), by improving the interfacial polarization and enhancing charge transfer properties under loads. FPED also showed improved stress tolerance by efficiently transferring stress from MXene layers to the PVDF matrix. In addition, FPED exhibited excellent performance in storing electrical energy (V${}_{OC}$ $\sim$ 2.30 V) within 12 s in a 22 $\mu$F capacitor and powering LEDs by finger tapping. FPED showed significant potential for energy harvesting and monitoring through human activity. Furthermore, FPED used as a smart gaming controller in IoT-based systems, allowing players to control in-game actions such as jumping, flying, walking, hitting, and smashing by finger tapping. These optimistic results suggest that the fabricated flexible MXene/PVDF composite can possess dual properties and power the next generation of small-energy electronics and smart IoT systems.