Energies, Vol. 18, Pages 5506: Electrospun Fabrication of 1–3-Type PVP/SbSI and PVP/SbSeI Nanocomposites with Excellent Piezoelectric Properties for Nanogenerators and Sensors

Energies, Vol. 18, Pages 5506: Electrospun Fabrication of 1–3-Type PVP/SbSI and PVP/SbSeI Nanocomposites with Excellent Piezoelectric Properties for Nanogenerators and Sensors

Energies doi: 10.3390/en18205506

Authors:
Bartłomiej Toroń
Wiktor Matysiak
Anna Starczewska
Jan Dec
Piotr Szperlich
Marian Nowak

Electrospun one-dimensional nanocomposites composed of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrices reinforced with antimony sulphoiodide (SbSI) or antimony selenoiodide (SbSeI) nanowires were fabricated for the first time. Their properties were investigated for applications in piezoelectric sensors and nanogenerators. Precise control of the electrospinning parameters produced nanofibres with diameters comparable to the lateral dimensions of the nanowires, ensuring parallel alignment and a 1–3 composite structure. Structural analysis confirmed uniform nanowire distribution and stoichiometry retention. In both nanocomposites, the alignment of the nanowires enables clear observation of the anisotropy of their piezoelectric properties. PVP/SbSI nanocomposites exhibited a ferroelectric–paraelectric transition near 290 K. Under air-pressure excitation of 17.03 bar, they generated a maximum piezoelectric voltage of 2.09 V, with a sensitivity of 229 mV/bar and a surface power density of 12.0 µW/cm2 for sandwich-type samples with nanowires aligned perpendicularly to the electrodes. PVP/SbSeI composites demonstrated stable semiconducting behaviour with a maximum piezoelectric voltage of 1.56 V, sensitivity of 130 mV/bar, and surface power density of 2.3 µW/cm2 for the same type of sample and excitation. The high piezoelectric coefficients d33 of 98 pC/N and 64 pC/N for PVP/SbSI and PVP/SbSeI, respectively, combined with mechanical flexibility, confirm the effectiveness of these nanocomposites as a practical solution for mechanical energy harvesting and pressure sensing in nanogenerators and sensors.