title: Enhanced power output of an electrospun PVDF/MWCNTs-based nanogenerator by tuning its conductivity.
abstract: PVDF nanofibre-based piezoelectric nanogenerators are directly prepared via electrospinning without any post-poling treatment. The effect of the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the fibre diameter, mechanical properties, β-phase composition, surface and volume conductivities, output voltage and output power are investigated. Increased surface conductivity of the poly-vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibre mats, which plays an important role in the enhancement of output power, is first found by the addition of an appropriate amount of MWCNTs. The maximum generated piezo-voltage exhibited by PVDF nanofibre mats in the presence of 5 wt% MWCNTs is as high as 6 V, while the average capacitor charging power is 81.8 nW, increases of 200% and 44.8%, respectively, compared with bare PVDF nanofibre mats.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibres and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mingxia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Mengye
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Qinghong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hongzhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang