What does this research mean for the field?

Incorporating 30 wt% of first-generation silane hyperbranched polyester (Si.HBP-G1) into electrospun PVDF nanofibers increases the electrical output voltage of piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators by nearly threefold compared to neat PVDF. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to improve the performance of PVDF-based nanogenerators by incorporating silanized hyperbranched polyester.

April 7, 2026Scientific Reports0 citationsOpen Access

Studies on electrospun PVDF/Silanized hyperbranched polyester of Gen-1 nanofibers as Piezo and Triboelectric nanogenerators

IBIndumathy BalaramanVellore Institute of Technology University AAAnand Prabu ArunVellore Institute of Technology University

Key Points

The research aims to improve the performance of PVDF-based nanogenerators by incorporating silanized hyperbranched polyester.
Developed flexible nanofibrous mats using electrospinning technique.
Blended varying percentages of silanized hyperbranched polyester with PVDF.
Fabricated piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators using the nanofibers.
Tested electrical output voltages of PENG and TENG devices under mechanical stress.
The optimal blend with 30 wt% Si.HBP-G1 achieved a voltage of 6.4 V for PENG and 44.4 V for TENG.
These outputs were nearly threefold higher than those from neat PVDF.
The TENG successfully powered nine LEDs during testing on the human body.

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable and wearable power sources demands the development of flexible energy harvesting system capable of converting ubiquitous biomechanical energy into feasible electrical energy. This study presents a novel approach to enhance the performance polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) based nanogenerators through the strategic incorporation of first-generation silane hyperbranched polyester (Si.HBP-G1). Varying percentages (0 to 40 wt%) of Si.HBP-G1, featuring a silane core and peripheral hydroxyl end groups were blended with PVDF to process nanofibrous mats through electrospinning. These nanofibers were utilized in fabricating piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) and triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) devices. The fabricated piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG), employing PVDF/Si.HBP-G1 nanofibers as the active layer effectively converted mechanical stress into electrical energy through the piezoelectric effect. In parallel, a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was constructed using the PVDF/Si.HBP-G1 nanofiber mat as the tribonegative layer and a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) cast film as the tribopositive layer, operating under vertical contact–separation mode. Among the compositions studied, the blend containing 30 wt% of Si.HBP-G1 exhibited superior electrical output voltages of 6.4 V for the PENG and 44.4 V for the TENG, which is almost threefold increase compared to 1.9 V and 12.9 V for neat PVDF. The optimized TENG device successfully powered nine LEDs and generated measurable output voltages when tested at various locations on the human body, highlighting its potential for renewable energy applications and smart health monitoring systems.These findings highlight the significant role of Si.HBP-G1 in enhancing the electromechanical performance of PVDF-based nanogenerators and underscores the potential of the developed devices for self-powered wearable electronics and smart health monitoring applications.

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