Elucidating the piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and dielectric performance of lead-free KNN/PVDF and its copolymer-based flexible composite films

Ecofriendly, reliable, and high-performance piezoelectric materials are drawing huge interest in resolving the environmental problems arising due to consumption of fossil fuel energy. Among the lead-free ferroelectrics, potassium sodium niobate (KNN, (K,Na)NbO3) is one of the most promising piezoelectric ceramics that can replace Pb(Zr,Ti)O3. In the present work, the piezoelectric performance of KNN incorporated in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers, polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), has been compared. The films were fabricated by a solution casting method and were further polarized by a corona poling technique. The results confirmed that the nanocomposite film with 8 wt % KNN filler in PVDF-TrFE (PTK8) exhibited the highest F(β) value, maximum remnant polarization, and dielectric constant value than other nanocomposites. The relative β-phase contents in PTK8, PHK8, and PK8 composite films reached 85, 76, and 75.8%, respectively, indicating that KNN acts as the most suitable nucleating agent in PVDF-TrFE. Also, the piezoelectric voltage output of the PTK8-based nanogenerator was found to be remarkably higher (∼20 V) as compared to other nanocomposite-based piezoelectric nanogenerators. It also exhibited a maximum power density of 0.54 μW/cm2 that was significantly improved in comparison to other composites. This nanogenerator was found to be a promising power generation device promoting miniaturization of self-powered systems.