Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting in Poly(vinylidene Fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene)/Barium Titanate Nanofibers and Ultrasonic Assisted Piezocatalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin.

An innovative approach has been adopted through the synthesis of a cost‐effective ferroelectric host polymer, which was integrated with Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) to develop an efficient electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride‐Hexafluoropropylene/BaTiO3 (PVdF‐HFP/BaTiO3) nanocomposite (PBT), designated for energy harvesting and piezocatalytic applications. FT‐IR affirmed the existence of the crystalline β‐phase within the nanofibers. SEM images showed that nanofiber diameter decreases as applied voltage is increased in electrospinning. The BaTiO3 nanoparticles were scattered evenly in PBT, but at lower voltages, they aggregate. PBT showed enhanced piezoelectric performance under higher voltage conditions, registering a maximum piezoelectric output of ~7.7 V and an output current of 0.77 μA. Moreover, the composite exhibited a power density of 14.15 mW/m2 at a load resistance of 20 MΩ. Fabricated piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) demonstrated practical utility in flexible electronics, notably in charging capacitors of 0.47 μF and 1 μF. Additionally, the piezocatalytic degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) was effectively achieved using the electrospun nanofibers, with an impressive degradation rate of up to 99.6 % within 30 minutes under acidic conditions, and the material displayed notable reusability, maintaining up to 95.5 % efficiency after five cycles. DFT calculations and COMSOL simulations alongside a comparative examination of the electronic properties of PBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]