High-Performance PZT-Based Stretchable Piezoelectric Nanogenerator

Stretchable piezoelectric nanogenerators are highly desirable for power supply of flexible electronics. Piezoelectric composite material is the most effective strategy to render piezoelectric nanogenerators stretchable. However, the generated output performance is unsatisfactory due to the low piezoelectric phase proportion. Here we demonstrate a high-performance Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT)-based stretchable piezoelectric nanogenerator (HSPG). The proposed HSPG exhibits excellent output performance with a power density of ∼81.25 μW/cm3, dozens of times higher than previously reported results. Mixing technique, instead of conventional stirring technology, is used to incorporate PZT particles into solid silicone rubber. The filler distribution homogeneity in matrix is thus remarkably improved, allowing higher filler composition. The PZT proportion in composite can be increased to 92 wt % with satisfactory stretchability of 30%. On the basis of the excellent electrical and mechanical properties, the proposed HSPG can be attached to human body to harvest body kinetic energy with multiple deformation modes. The obtained energy can be used to operate commercial electronics or be stored into a capacitor. Therefore, our HSPG has great potential application in powering flexible electronics.