A Flexible Poly(butylene Adipate-Co-terephthalate)/cdfe2o4 Polymer Nanocomposite-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting and Security Sensing Applications

A flexible triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was developed using a poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/CdFe2O4 polymer nanocomposite for mechanical energy harvesting and sensing. CdFe2O4 nanoparticles with non-uniform particle sizes were synthesized via a combustion method and incorporated into the PBAT matrix at different weight percentages (4.76, 9.09, 13.04, 16.66, and 20 wt%) by solvent casting. Incorporating CdFe2O4 improved PBATs material properties, thereby enhancing its triboelectric performance. The optimized PBAT-based TENG (13.04 wt% CdFe2O4) exhibited an output voltage of 39 V, a current of 3.9 & micro;A, and a maximum power density of 18.15 & micro;W/m2 (60 M Omega). The device charged 2.2 & micro;F and 4.7 & micro;F capacitors to 0.29 V and 0.25 V, respectively, within 40 s and successfully powered LEDs and a digital stopwatch without an external power source. Furthermore, the device showed stable, repeatable responses under periodic mechanical stimuli, enabling its use as a self-powered touch sensor. Compared with other CdFe2O4 loadings, the 13.04 wt% nano-composite film exhibited the highest tensile strength of 10.03 MPa. Wettability analysis showed a contact angle of 73 degrees, indicating suitable surface properties for flexible device applications. This study demonstrates a PBAT/ CdFe2O4 nanocomposite-based TENG with dual functionality in energy harvesting and sensing, highlighting the role of ferrite nanofillers in enhancing triboelectric performance.