Enhanced dielectric, ferroelectric, energy storage and mechanical energy harvesting performance of ZnO-PVDF composites induced by MWCNTs as an additive third phase.

The present work highlights an attempt of fabricating a nanocomposite by the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a third phase into flexible ZnO-poly(vinylidene fluoride) (ZnO-PVDF) composites. MWCNTs played a very important role in distributing ZnO fillers in the PVDF matrix more homogeneously and increased the connection capability. Enhancement of the piezoelectric phase, dielectric permittivity, ferroelectric polarization, energy storage density and mechanical energy harvesting performance of ZnO-PVDF composites after the addition of MWCNTs was confirmed from the respective characterization studies. The sensing capability was demonstrated by the generation of ∼22 V ac output voltage through the application of human finger tapping on 15 wt% ZnO and a 0.1 wt% MWCNT-loaded PVDF (15PZNT) based composite film. The rectified voltage from the fabricated 15PZNT film was used to charge a 10-µF capacitor up to ∼3 V which was used for the illumination of 30 commercial LEDs. The maximum power density from the film was found to be 21.41 µW cm-2 at 4 MΩ load resistance. The effect of the addition of MWCNTs was also verified by simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics software.

Nano-ZnO decorated ZnSnO3 as efficient fillers in PVDF matrixes: toward simultaneous enhancement of energy storage density and efficiency and improved energy harvesting activity.

Here, we report the effect of ZnO decoration on ZnSnO3 fillers on the dielectric property, energy storage behaviour and mechanical energy harvesting performance of PVDF matrixes. More enhanced dielectric constant and reduction in dielectric loss were achieved in PVDF-ZnO@ZnSnO3 (PVDF-ZNZS) films than in PVDF-ZnSnO3 (PVDF-ZS) films for the same concentration of filler loading. Similarly, PVDF-ZNZS films showed simultaneous enhancement in electrical energy storage density and storage efficiency compared to PVDF-ZS composites. As all the constituent materials (PVDF, ZnSnO3 and ZnO) were piezoelectric, the resulting composite film showed improved piezoelectric energy harvesting performance too. After rectification, the output ac voltage was used to charge a 10 µF capacitor up to ∼5 V dc which was further used to light up some LEDs. Furthermore, in order to exhibit improved sensitive output, a hybrid piezo-tribo nanogenerator was fabricated which was demonstrated as a motion sensor, a weight sensor and a human body movement sensor as part of a real life application.

Superhydrophobic films on glass surface derived from trimethylsilanized silica gel nanoparticles.

The paper deals with the fabrication of sol-gel-derived superhydrophobic films on glass based on the macroscopic silica network with surface modification. The fabricated transparent films were composed of a hybrid -Si(CH(3))(3)-functionalized SiO(2) nanospheres exhibiting the desired micro/nanostructure, water repellency, and antireflection (AR) property. The wavelength selective AR property can be tuned by controlling the physical thickness of the films. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies revealed the existence of SiO(2) nanoparticles of average size ∼9.4 nm in the sols. TEM studies showed presence of interconnected SiO(2) NPs of ∼10 nm in size. The films were formed with uniformly packed SiO(2) aggregates as observed by FESEM of film surface. FTIR of the films confirmed presence of glasslike Si-O-Si bonding and methyl functionalization. The hydrophobicity of the surface was depended on the thickness of the deposited films. A critical film thickness (>115 nm) was necessary to obtain the air push effect for superhydrophobicity. Trimethylsilyl functionalization of SiO(2) and the surface roughness (rms ≈30 nm as observed by AFM) of the films were also contributed toward the high water contact angle (WCA). The coated glass surface showed WCA value of the droplet as high as 168 ± 3° with 6 µL of water. These superhydrophobic films were found to be stable up to about 230-240 °C as confirmed by TG/DTA studies, and WCA measurements of the films with respect to the heat-treatment temperatures. These high water repellant films can be deposited on relatively large glass surfaces to remove water droplets immediately without any mechanical assistance.

Ag-TiO2 nanoparticle codoped SiO2 films on ZrO2 barrier-coated glass substrates with antibacterial activity in ambient condition.

Anatase TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) codoped SiO2 films were prepared by the sol-gel method. Proportionate amounts of 3-(glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO), tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-(methacryloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (MEMO) derived inorganic-organic silica sol, commercially available dispersed anatase TiO2 NPs, and AgNO3 were used to prepare the sols. The films were prepared on ZrO2 (cubic) precoated soda-lime glass substrates by a single-dipping technique and heat-treated at 450 °C in air and H2/Ar atmosphere to obtain hard, relatively porous, and transparent coatings of thickness>600 nm. The ZrO2 barrier layer was previously applied on soda-lime glass to restrict the diffusion of Ag into the substrate. The Ag-TiO2 NPs incorporated SiO2 films were intense yellow in color and found to be fairly stable at ambient condition for several days under fluorescent light. These films show a considerable growth inhibition on contact with the gram negative bacteria E. coli.

Refractive index controlled plasmon tuning of Au nanoparticles in SiO2-ZrO2 film matrices.

Au-plasmon tuning has been accomplished by controlling the refractive index (n) of the embedding film matrix. The refractive index of the film matrices were controlled by changing the molar ratios of low (SiO2) and high index (ZrO2) components following sol-gel reactions. Thus, Au nanoparticles doped films were prepared from SiO2-ZrO2 inorganic-organic hybrid sols of variable molar ratios containing HAuCl4 following the dip-coating method. The film samples deposited on glass substrates were obtained after drying, UV-treatment, and subsequent heat-treatment at 500 degrees C in air. The nominal mol ratios of SiO2:ZrO2 were 1:0, 1:1, 1:2.3, and 1:4. 3 equivalent mol% Au-97% total oxide (SiO2 + ZrO2) was maintained in the final heat-treated films. FTIR studies confirmed good homogeneity of Si-Zr network in the Zr-containing films. The UV-treatment has been introduced to facilitate the decomposition of HAuCl4 in the hybrid matrix prior to the heat-treatment step. The main Au-plasmon peak, in the case of a SiO2 host (SiO2:ZrO2 = 1:0, n = 1.410), observed at about 546 nm, gradually red-shifted to 592 nm upon increasing the ZrO2 content (SiO2:ZrO2 = 1:4, n = 1.847). Transmission electron microscopy of the final heat-treated (500 degrees C) films showed existence of plate-like (triangular and hexagonal) Au nanoparticles (25-50 nm) along with relatively smaller nanoparticles of about 10 nm in size. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that the Au nanoparticles have a (111) orientation.