Work

Ti3C2-induced phase and interfacial effects in PVDF composites on the triboelectric behavior

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as promising candidates for sustainable energy harvesting and self-powered sensing due to their structural simplicity, scalability, and adaptability. In this work, multi-layer Ti 3 C 2 T x was incorporated into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) at different concentrations via drop-casting to investigate the influence of MXene incorporation on the structural, dielectric, tribological, and triboelectric properties of the resulting composite films. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that MXenes promote the transformation of PVDF towards the electroactive β-phase through interfacial interactions between PVDF dipoles and MXenes’ surface terminations. Dielectric measurements demonstrated a progressive increase in dielectric constant with increasing MXene content, which was attributed to the combined effects of enhanced β-phase formation and interfacial polarization. Tribological experiments showed that low MXene loadings (2 wt%) had only a marginal influence on friction compared with neat PVDF, whereas higher contents led to a pronounced increase in coefficient of friction due to increased surface heterogeneity and roughness. The triboelectric characterization confirmed an improved electrical output for MXene-containing composites in both contact-separation and sliding modes. The highest open-circuit voltages reached approximately 17.5 V for the composite containing 20 wt% in contact-separation mode, while 20.5 V were achieved for 8 wt% in sliding mode. The enhanced triboelectric response is attributed to MXene-induced modulation of the interfacial electronic structure, including an increased density of electronic states and trap-state formation, facilitating charge transfer and suppressing charge recombination. Based on the experimental observations, a mechanism is proposed linking interfacial electronic states, charge trapping, and triboelectric charge transport in MXene-PVDF composites. Our findings provide further insights into structure–property-performance relationships in MXene-based triboelectric materials and contribute to the design of advanced polymer-based triboelectric systems for sustainable energy harvesting applications.

Source: Materials & Design

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2026.116840

Authors: Natarajan Gnanaseelan, Durga Prasad Pabba, David E. Acuña-Ureta, Andreas Rosenkranz, Max Marian

Institutions: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Metropolitan University of Technology, Millennium Science Initiative, University of Chile, Leibniz University Hannover

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650