Piezo-tribo-electric nanogenerator based on BCZT/MCNTs/PDMS piezoelectric composite for compressive energy harvesting.

• Enhancing the electrical output performance of a composite piezoelectric nanogenerator based on BCZT/MCNTs/PDMS through triboelectric hybridization. • The piezo-triboelectric nanogenerator, based on the BCZT/MCNTs/PDMS composite, demonstrated optimal electrical output performance at a 50 wt%-BCZT ratio (V OC ∼ 39.7 V, I SC ∼ 1.9 µA, peak-to-peak power of ∼ 157.7 µW, and power density of ∼ 9.85 µW/cm2) under a compressive load force of 500 N and a frequency of 1 Hz. • The piezo-triboelectric nanogenerator device exhibits promising potential for energy harvesting under high compressive loading at low frequencies. This work has developed a novel piezo-tribo-electric nanogenerator (P-TENG) that is capable of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy when operating in compressive mode. An arch-shaped P-TENG device was formed using an optimal piezoelectric polymer composite, which was fabricated using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix that was modified with piezoelectric (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15) (Ti 0.90 Zr 0.10)O 3 (BCZT) ceramic particles and electrically conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs). A high filler loading of BCZT (40, 50, 60 wt%) and 3 wt% of MCNTs was formed into a 0–3 connectivity composite. The P-TENG device containing 50 wt% BCZT exhibited the highest electrical output (V OC ∼ 39.7 V, I SC ∼ 1.9 µA, and maximum power ∼ 157.7 µW), compared to the other composites, when subjected to an alternating compressive load of 500 N at a 1 Hz frequency. This research provides new composite formulations for elastomeric-based energy generators that are responsive to low frequency mechanical oscillations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]