Defect-Induced Self-Poling in a W₁₈O₄₉/PVDF Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

W18O49 nanostructures, previously used for electrocatalysis, energy storage, electrochromic, and gas sensing applications, are incorporated in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in this work for mechanical energy-harvesting applications. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the polarization-electric (P-E) field loop test prompts the addition of W18O49 nanorods in PVDF nucleates and stabilizes the piezoelectric polar γ-phase in the nanocomposite. Electrochemical experiments were employed for the first time to relate the event of the evolution of crystalline phases in PVDF to the transfer of electrons to the electrolyte from PVDF using the data from cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). High dielectric constant (ε′) and low dielectric loss (ε″) values were obtained proportionately for different weight percentage additions of W18O49 nanorods in PVDF. DSC was employed to study the crystallization kinetics of γ-phase evolution. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) was used to compare the piezoelectric responses from the PVDF nanocomposites. The W18O49/PVDF nanocomposite could generate a peak open circuit voltage of ∼6 V and a peak short circuit current of ∼700 nA. The W18O49/PVDF nanocomposite could light two commercial blue-light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with hand impulse imparting

Defect-Induced Self-Poling in a W₁₈O₄₉/PVDF Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

W18O49 nanostructures, previously used for electrocatalysis, energy storage, electrochromic, and gas sensing applications, are incorporated in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in this work for mechanical energy-harvesting applications. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the polarization-electric (P-E) field loop test prompts the addition of W18O49 nanorods in PVDF nucleates and stabilizes the piezoelectric polar γ-phase in the nanocomposite. Electrochemical experiments were employed for the first time to relate the event of the evolution of crystalline phases in PVDF to the transfer of electrons to the electrolyte from PVDF using the data from cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). High dielectric constant (ε′) and low dielectric loss (ε″) values were obtained proportionately for different weight percentage additions of W18O49 nanorods in PVDF. DSC was employed to study the crystallization kinetics of γ-phase evolution. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) was used to compare the piezoelectric responses from the PVDF nanocomposites. The W18O49/PVDF nanocomposite could generate a peak open circuit voltage of ∼6 V and a peak short circuit current of ∼700 nA. The W18O49/PVDF nanocomposite could light two commercial blue-light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with hand impulse imparting

Search for Origin of Room Temperature Ferromagnetism Properties in Ni-Doped ZnO Nanostructure

The origin of room temperature (RT) ferromagnetism (FM) in Zn_1–<i>x</i>Ni_<i>x</i>O (0< <i>x</i> < 0.125) samples are systematically investigated through physical, optical, and magnetic properties of nanostructure, prepared by simple low-temperature wet chemical method. Reitveld refinement of X-ray diffraction pattern displays an increase in lattice parameters with strain relaxation and contraction in Zn/O occupancy ratio by means of Ni-doping. Similarly, scanning electron microscope demonstrates modification in the morphology from nanorods to nanoflakes with Ni doping, suggests incorporation of Ni ions in ZnO. More interestingly, XANES (X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy) measurements confirm that Ni is being incorporated in ZnO as Ni²⁺. EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) analysis reveals that structural disorders near the Zn sites in the ZnO samples upsurges with increasing Ni concentration. Raman spectroscopy exhibits additional defect driven vibrational mode (at 275 cm^–1), appeared only in Ni-doped samples and the shift with broadening in 580 cm^–1 peak, which manifests the presence of the oxygen vacancy (V_O) related defects. Moreover, in photoluminescence (PL) spectra, we have observed a peak at 524 nm, indicating the presence of singly ionized V_O⁺, which may be activating bound magnetic polarons (BMPs) in dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). Magnetization measurements indicate weak ferromagnetism at RT, which rises with increasing Ni concentration. It is therefore proposed that the effect of the Ni ions as well as the inherent exchange interactions arising from V_O⁺ assist to produce BMPs, which are accountable for the RT-FM in Zn_1–<i>x</i>Ni_<i>x</i>O (0< <i>x</i> < 0.125) system