Pure Piezoelectricity Generation by a Flexible Nanogenerator Based on Lead Zirconate Titanate Nanofibers

Lead zirconate titanate (PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3, PZT) alloys have been extensively studied to be used for piezoelectric nanogenerators to harvest energy from mechanical motions. In this study, PZT nanofiber-based nanogenerators were fabricated to test their true piezoelectric performance without the triboelectric effect. Aligned PZT nanofibers were fabricated by a sol–gel electrospinning process. The thickness, area, and orientation of the PZT textile made by electrospinning a PZT solution onto multipair metal wires or metal mesh were controlled to form a composite textile. After the calcination, the PZT textile mixed with polydimethylsiloxane was placed between two flexible indium-doped tin oxide–polyethylene naphthalate substrates. The performance parameters of the nanogenerators were investigated under the bending motion, which excludes the triboelectric effect. An assembled nanogenerator of an area of 8 cm2 and a thickness of 80 μm could generate an electrical output voltage of 1.1 V and a current of 1.4 μA...