Achieving High Power Density in Paper-based Piezoelectric Nanogenerators through Dual-phase BCZT Doping Strategy

Development of high performance, flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) is critical for advancing self-powered sensing and microelectronic applications. In this study, a hydrogen-bond substitute strategy was employed to fabricate a multi-layer PENG based on a cellulose/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) blend film matrix, incorporating multi-phase BCZT (0.1BaZr 0.2Ti0.8O3-0.9Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO 3) ceramic fillers. Structural characterization via SEM and TEM revealed that an intricate hydrogen-bond network facilitated the uniform dispersion of ceramic fillers within the composite film’s sub-layers. In order to study the effect of filler distribution on piezoelectric performance, the single- and double-layer composite films with varying BCZT configurations were produced and evaluated. The results demonstrated that double-layer PENGs exhibit significantly enhanced electrical output compared to their single-layer counterparts, with the D-L3H7 configuration achieving an open circuit voltage (VOC) of 23.13 V and a short circuit current (ISC) of 8.32 μA. This enhancement is attributed to increased inter-layer interfaces, which effectively suppressed charge injection and migration, leading to improved charge density. Additionally, the presence of sharp tipped hexagonal tetragonal phase nanoparticles induced an electric field enhancement effect, further optimizing performance.