Electrospun BiFeO3 Nanofibers for Vibrational Energy Harvesting Application

Abstract

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3, BFO) has found application in a wide range of fields owing to its fascinating multiferroic properties. Herein, the interplay between the piezoelectric properties and morphology of BFO nanostructures is exploited for vibrational energy harvesting application by tailoring BFO to a high aspect ratio and high surface area nanofiber morphology. This work demonstrates a facile pathway for the fabrication of high-performance flexible nanogenerators, based on BFO nanofibers, from a cost-effective and energy-efficient electrospinning technique. The X-ray diffraction data of calcined fibers confirm the formation of noncentrosymmetric crystalline perovskite phase. The morphological characterization by scanning electron microscopy shows a compact anisotropic nanofibrous morphology. For the fabrication of nanogenerators, BFO nanofibers are embedded in a piezoactive polymer matrix (polyvinylidenfluoride [PVDF]). As-fabricated BFO/PVDF composite nanogenerators produce a high peak-to-peak voltage output of 7.6 V, with an average output power density of 185 ± 106 nW cm−2 upon periodic application of force through finger knocking.