Flexible Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Based on UV Light Emitting Ce3+-Complex-P(VDF-HFP) Composite Films

Abstract

In this study, we report on the preparation of a polymer composite film with enhanced ( 99%) electroactive phases - and -phase) based on P(VDF-HFP) copolymer and Ce3+-complex. Furthermore, its utilization in piezoelectric-based flexible energy harvesting (PFEH) device fabrication has been studied, where the electrostatic interactions between the surface charges of Ce3+-complex and -CH2-/-CF2- molecular dipoles of P(VDF-HFP) via H-bonding co-operate to stabilize the electroactive phases and enhance its piezoelectric properties. PFEH generates 3 V of open circuit voltage and 0.16 A short-circuit current under the external pressure impacting amplitude of 14.20 kPa. Moreover, it can successfully charge up capacitor by repeating finger impact which indicates its potency as an efficient energy-harvesting device. Besides this, the composite film exhibits an intense photoluminescence in the UV-region that might be very promising in the area of high-performance, energy-saving, flexible, solid-state UV light emitters and fabrication of hybrid multifunctional energy harvester where mechano-luminescence phenomenon might be possible to include.