Harnessing thermal waste with a poling-free molecular pyroelectric zinc(II) complex.

Transforming abundant thermal energy into electrical energy is an essential and sustainable solution to meet the rapidly growing global energy demand. In this communication, we report an electrical poling-free molecular complex [Zn(bpy)](ClO)·HO (1) with an appreciable pyroelectric coefficient value of 25 μC m K. This allowed us to harvest waste heat energy using a pyroelectric nanogenerator (PyG) device of 1, a relatively unexplored area for molecular complexes.

Light-regulated pyro-phototronic effects in a perovskite CsSnI-reinforced ferroelectric polymer hybrid nanostructure.

The 'pyro-phototronic effect' plays a nontrivial role in advancing ferroelectric (FE) devices of light detectors, light-emitting diodes, and other smart technologies. In this work, a premier FE copolymer, poly(vinylidene fluoride--trifluoro ethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)), is reinforced with a lead-free double perovskite, CsSnI, to render profound properties in a hybrid nanostructure. It presents a unique example of the coupling of ferro-, pyro- and piezo-electrics to the 'photoexcitation' of exotic charges that actively empower the synergetic features.

Machine Learning-Enabled Nanoscale Phase Prediction in Engineered Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride).

Engineered poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with its diverse crystalline phases plays a crucial role in determining the performance of devices in piezo-, pyro-, ferro- and tribo-electric applications, indicating the importance of distinct phase-detection in defining the structure-property relation. However, traditional characterization techniques struggle to effectively distinguish these phases, thereby failing to offer complete information. In this study, multimodal data-driven techniques have been employed for distinguishing different phases with a machine learning (ML) approach.

Flexible Organic Molecular Single Crystal-Based Triboelectric Device as a Self-Powered Tactile Sensor.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have proven to be effective at converting mechanical energy into electrical power, making them a viable technology for operating self-powered electronic devices used in medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. In the present study, we demonstrate the utility of the flexible single crystals of an organic compound for the fabrication of a TENG as a self-powered tactile sensor. Triboelectrification was attained in single crystals as a result of surface functionalization with positively and negatively charged moieties, viz.

Room Temperature Single-Component Organic Multiferroics with Large Magnetoelectric Coupling: Proficient Approach for Stray-Magnetic Field Harvesting.

Magnetoelectric materials are highly desirable for technological applications due to their ability to produce electricity under a magnetic field. Among the various types of magnetoelectric materials studied, their organic counterparts provide an opportunity to develop solution-processable, flexible, lightweight, and wearable electronic devices. However, there is a rare choice of solution-processable, flexible, lightweight magnetoelectric materials which has tremendous technological interest.

Beyond Conventional Catalysts: Monoelemental Tellurium as a Game Changer for Piezo-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

The increasing demand for clean hydrogen production over fossil fuels necessitates the development of sustainable piezoelectrochemical methods that can overcome the limitations of conventional electrocatalytic and photocatalytic approaches. In this regard, existing piezocatalysts face challenges related to their low piezoelectricity or active site coverage for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Driven by global environmental concerns, there is a compelling push to engineer practical materials for highly efficient HER.

Electrospun polarity-controlled molecular orientation for synergistic performance of an artifact-free piezoelectric anisotropic sensor.

Anisotropy in mechanical, optical and thermal sensors in a spatial direction has many applications in health care, robotics, aerospace, and tissue engineering. In particular, wearable and implantable sensors respond to stretching and bending strains that probe mechanical energy and track physiological signals. Hence, the development of anisotropic pressure sensors with true piezoelectric (PE) signals is of utmost importance to achieve efficient devices.

Nanoconfinement Effect in Water Processable Discrete Molecular Complex-Based Hybrid Piezo- and Thermo-Electric Nanogenerator.

Water-processable hybrid piezo- and thermo-electric materials have an increasing range of applications. We use the nanoconfinement effect of ferroelectric discrete molecular complex [Cu(l-phe)(bpy)(HO)]PF·HO () in a nonpolar polymer 1D-nanofiber to envision the high-performance flexible hybrid piezo- and thermo-electric nanogenerator (TEG). The 1D-nanoconfined crystallization of enhances piezoelectric throughput with a high degree of mechano-sensitivity, i.

A Spin-Charge-Regulated Self-Powered Nanogenerator for Simultaneous Pyro-Magneto-Electric Energy Harvesting.

In view of the depletion of natural energy resources, harvesting energy from waste is a revolution to simultaneously capture, unite, and recycle various types of waste energies in flexible devices. Thus, in this work, a spin-charge-regulated pyro-magneto-electric nanogenerator is devised at a well-known ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer. It promptly stores thermal-magnetic energies in a "capacitor" that generates electricity at room temperature.

On-Demand MXene-Coupled Pyroelectricity for Advanced Breathing Sensors and IR Data Receivers.

MXene-inspired two-dimensional (2D) materials like TiCT are widely known for their versatile properties, including surface plasmon, higher electrical conductivity, exceptional in-plane tensile strength, EMI shielding, and IR thermal properties. The MXene nanosheets coupled poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers with ∼-26 pm V are able to capture the smaller thermal fluctuation due to a superior pyroelectric coefficient of ∼130 nC m K with an improved (∼7 times with respect to neat PVDF nanofibers) pyroelectric current figure of merit (FOM). The significant enhancement of the pyroelectric response is attributed to the confinement effect of 2D MXene (TiCT) nanosheets within PVDF nanofibers, as evidenced from polarized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy (SPM).

Controlled Molecular Orientation through Intercalation in PVDF Thin Films: Exhibiting Ultralong Retention and Improved Leakage Current.

Ferroelectric switching and retention performance of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) thin films improve by the incorporation of unmodified smectite montmorillonite (MMT) clay nanodielectric. In the present study, an intercalated PVDF (clay/PVDF) thin film with edge-on β-crystallite is fabricated via a heat-controlled spin coating (HCSC) technique. This provides an efficient and simple way to fabricate the edge-on oriented crystallite lamellae with an electroactive β-phase, facilitating nanoscale ferroelectric switching at a lower voltage compared to the face-on orientation.

Deciphering the anisotropic energy harvesting responses of an above room temperature molecular ferroelectric copper(II) complex single crystal.

The mechanical/piezoelectric and/or thermal/pyroelectric energy harvesting efficiency is observed to be extremely good in multi-component ferroelectric inorganic oxides in their single-crystal form rather than in their polycrystalline counterparts (pellets and thick/thin films). However, growing such multi-component single crystals is a challenging and cost-intensive process besides the difficulty in tuning their long-range ferroic ordering and the involvement of toxic heavy elements. Instead, discrete inorganic metal complexes can be potential alternatives for which one can overcome these caveats by an appropriate design strategy.

Reactive oxygen species for therapeutic application: Role of piezoelectric materials.

This perspective article emphasizes the significant role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in remedial therapy of various diseases and complications, capitalizing on their potential reactivity. Among the various influencers, herein, piezoelectric materials driven ROS generation activity is primarily considered. Intrinsic non-centrosymmetry of piezoelectric materials makes them suitable for distinct dipole formation in the presence of external mechanical stimuli.

Hydrogen Bonding-Assisted Complete Ferroelectric β-Phase Conversion in Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Thin Films: Exhibiting an Excellent Memory Window and Long Retention.

Organic nonvolatile memory with low power consumption is a critical research demand for next-generation memory applications. Ferroelectric switching characteristics of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) thin films modified with a trace amount of hydrated Cu salt (CuCl·2HO) are explored in the present study. Herein, a Cu salt-mediated PVDF (Cu/PVDF) thin film with preferential edge-on β-crystallites is fabricated through the orientation-controlled spin coating (OCSC) technique.

Quasi-harmonic approach to evaluate pyroelectric properties in Janus CrSeBr monolayer.

Two-dimensional materials are emerging as promising dielectric materials and have enormous possibilities in wearable micro and nanoelectronics, sensor, and detectors. The theoretical calculation is performed to investigate the pyroelectric coefficient and pyroelectric figure of merit (FOM) of Janus CrSeBr monolayer. Quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA) is used to calculate primary (p) and secondary (p) pyroelectric coefficients.

Bio-piezoelectric phenylalanine-αβ-dehydrophenylalanine nanotubes as potential modalities for combinatorial electrochemotherapy in glioma cells.

Bio-piezoelectric materials are endowed with characteristic features such as non-invasiveness, small energy attenuation and deep tissue penetrability. Thus, they have the ability to serve as both diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for targeting and treating various dreaded disorders scourging mankind. Herein, piezoelectric nanotubes derived from a modified amino acid-containing dipeptide, phenylalanine-αβ-dehydrophenylalanine (Phe-ΔPhe; FΔF), possessing acoustic stimulation-triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating ability, were employed and projected for achieving a piezo-active response enabled anti-cancer effect in glioma cells.

Injectable Bone Cement Reinforced with Gold Nanodots Decorated rGO-Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites, Augment Bone Regeneration.

Interest in the development of new generation injectable bone cements having appropriate mechanical properties, biodegradability, and bioactivity has been rekindled with the advent of nanoscience. Injectable bone cements made with calcium sulfate (CS) are of significant interest, owing to its compatibility and optimal self-setting property. Its rapid resorption rate, lack of bioactivity, and poor mechanical strength serve as a deterrent for its wide application.

Discrete Molecular Copper(II) Complex for Efficient Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Above Room-Temperature.

Developing robust, wearable, and biocompatible energy harvesting devices with bulk oxides (ceramics and perovskites) is extremely hard to achieve due to their zero mechanical flexibility, heavy metal toxicity, and tunability of properties. Alternatively, discrete inorganic complexes can be an excellent choice to overcome the above-stated issues, thanks to appropriate molecular engineering. Herein, we report an above-room-temperature ferroelectric discrete molecular complex [Cu(L-phe)(bpy)(H O)]PF ⋅H O (1) which is suitable for piezoelectric energy harvesting due to its large values of piezoelectric co-efficient (d =10 pm V ) and spontaneous polarization (P =1.

Utilizing Strain-Engineered Stable Halide Perovskite for Interfacial Interaction with Molecular Dipoles To Enhance Ferroelectric Switching and Piezoresponse in Polymer Composite Nanofibers.

Mechanical and solar to electrical energy conversion using piezo- and ferroelectric and photovoltaic effects may be a practical answer to the rising energy demand. In this quest, piezoelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoroproylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) has gained interest due to its superior piezo- and ferroelectricity. In photovoltaic applications, inorganic halide perovskite (IHP) of CsPbI is considered a prime model compound.

Lead-Free Perovskite CsBiI-Derived Electroactive PVDF Composite-Based Piezoelectric Nanogenerators for Physiological Signal Monitoring and Piezo-Phototronic-Aided Strain Modulated Photodetectors.

In recent years, lead-free perovskite materials are exponentially emerging in photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications due to their low toxicity and superior optical properties. On the other hand, the demand for flexible, wearable, and lightweight optoelectronic devices is significantly growing in sensor and actuator technologies. In this scenario, lead-free perovskite-based flexible piezoelectric polymer composites have sparked considerable attention in this field due to their excellent piezo-, pyro-, ferroelectric, and photovoltaic properties.

Assessment of Soil Fertility Using Induced Fluorescence and Machine Learning.

Techniques such as proximal soil sampling are investigated to increase the sampling density and hence the resolution at which nutrient prescription maps are developed. With the advent of a commercial mobile fluorescence sensor, this study assessed the potential of fluorescence to estimate soil chemical properties and fertilizer recommendations. This experiment was conducted over two years at nine sites on 168 soil samples and used random forest regression to estimate soil properties, fertility classes, and recommended N rates for maize production based on induced fluorescence of air-dried soil samples.

Surface Potential Tuned Single Active Material Comprised Triboelectric Nanogenerator for a High Performance Voice Recognition Sensor.

To fabricate a high-performance and ultrasensitive triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), choice of a combination of different materials of triboelectric series is one of the prime challenging tasks. An effective way to fabricate a TENG with a single material (abbreviated as S-TENG) is proposed, comprising electrospun nylon nanofibers. The surface potential of the nanofibers are tuned by changing the voltage polarity in the electrospinning setup, employed between the needle and collector.

Tunable, conductive, self-healing, adhesive and injectable hydrogels for bioelectronics and tissue regeneration applications.

Conductive hydrogels are attracting considerable interest in view of their potential in a wide range of applications that include healthcare and electronics. Such hydrogels are generally incorporated with conductive materials/polymers. Herein, we present a series of conductive hydrogels (Ch-CMC-PDA), prepared with no additional conductive material.