| Author: | Song, Ruobing |
| Title: | PVDF thin film and nanofibers for energy applications |
| Advisors: | Chai, Y (AP) : Huang, H. T. (AP) |
| Degree: | M.Phil. |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Subject: | Nanostructured materials. Organic thin films. Energy harvesting. Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Applied Physics |
| Pages: | 140 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The increasing demands for clean, reliable and sustainable energy require researchers to develop highly efficient and environmentally friendly energy harvesting/storage devices. Nowadays, renewable energy already occupies a bigger share of the world's energy demand pie, and still keeps growing. Mechanical and solar energy are ubiquitous in our daily life. In this work, we focus on studying the use of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a component in the mechanical and solar energy harvester. PVDF has attracted extensive interest for decades due to its unique piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties, high chemical and thermal stability. In addition, PVDF is intrinsically an organic, which allows it to be fabricated by low-cost methods and engineered to be PVDF thin film or PVDF based nanofiber. Recent works have shown considerable attention towards self-powered energy source by scavenging energy from ambient environments. The integration of energy harvesting and energy storage device is a way that not only enables to convert ambient energy into electricity but also provides sustainable power source for various electronic devices and systems. It is highly desirable to improve the integration level and minimize unnecessary energy loss in the power-management circuits between energy harvesting and storage devices. In our study, we fabricated a device composed of supercapacitor and piezoelectric nanogenerator. PVDF thin film membrane was integrated as a component both the separator and the energy harvester in a supercapacitor to form a rectification-free devices for one-step energy conversion and storage. In this device, externally mechanical impact establishes a piezoelectric potential across the PVDF film, which serves as a driving force for the migration of ions towards the interface of functionalized carbon cloth electrodes and stores the electricity in the form of electrochemical energy. Transparent electrode is an indispensable component for solar cell. The thin and flexible transparent electrodes with excellent conductivity and good transmittance are highly desirable in industry. Ag nanofibers (Ag NFs) networks have been shown with high transmittance, low resistance and excellent flexibility. The contact resistance between two nanofibers junction hinders the further reduction of the sheet resistance of Ag NFs networks. In our work, Ag NFs electrode was produced by combining electrospun PVDF nanofibers with electroless metallic deposition technique. The fabrication parameters of PVDF nanofibers were systematically investigated for obtaining high quality nanofibers. Then, the PVDF nanofibers worked as template for the Ag electroless deposition at ambient temperature. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | open access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b29011851.pdf | For All Users | 3.69 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/8527