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Advances in Polymer Composites for Nanogenerator Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2025 | Viewed by 1019

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daeduk Science Town, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Interests: energy harvesters and Li-ion batteries; thin-film coatings; metal halide perovskites; antibacterial functional coatings; polymer composite materials; piezo/ferroelectric materials; self-powered sensors and photodetectors; multi-functional devices (energy harvester cum sensor)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daeduk Science Town, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Interests: thermoelectric, piezoelectric, and photovoltaic materials for the development of various energy harvesters, sensors and storage units; halide perovskite materials; polymer composite materials; photodetectors; thin-film antibacterial surface coatings for hygienic displays; antibacterial touch sensors

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Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daeduk Science Town, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Interests: thin-film capacitors; fusion technology of solar cells, thermoelectrics, and piezoelectrics using one material and one structure; in situ graphene growth with no transfer at 100 °C; flexoelectric properties of Zn-Al:LDH nanosheets; halide perovskite thin films such as MAPbI3, MASnI3, CsPbI3, and MA3Bi2I9 using the CVD method; thin-film antibacterial coatings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid advancement in energy harvesting technologies has positioned nanogenerators as a pivotal solution for powering self-sustained systems. Among the various materials explored, polymer composites have garnered significant attention due to their flexibility, tunable properties, environmental friendliness, and scalability. This Special Issue focuses on recent breakthroughs and emerging trends in polymer composites for nanogenerator applications, emphasizing both fundamental research and practical implementations. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the development of novel polymer composites incorporating nanoparticles, 2D materials, and hybrid systems to enhance energy conversion efficiency; cutting-edge fabrication techniques and scalable device architectures; and the study of structure–property relationships to optimize device performance for piezoelectric, triboelectric, and hybrid nanogenerators. Furthermore, we welcome contributions on the integration of these materials into wearable electronics, IoT devices, self-powered sensors, and biomedical systems, along with research addressing sustainability, recyclability, and improved durability of polymer composites.

We invite researchers to share their latest investigations in the form of articles, communications, and reviews, contributing to this Special Issue and advancing the field of polymer composites for nanogenerator applications. This platform aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and drive innovation in energy harvesting technologies.

Dr. Swathi Ippili
Dr. Venkatraju Jella
Prof. Dr. Soon-Gil Yoon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer composites
  • nanogenerators
  • energy harvesting
  • piezoelectric nanogenerators
  • triboelectric nanogenerators
  • pyroelectric nanogenerators
  • hybrid nanogenerators
  • properties
  • wearable electronics
  • self-powered devices

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2153 KiB  
Article
Dielectric Tailoring of Perovskite-Polymer Composites for High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerators
by Venkatraju Jella, Swathi Ippili and Soon-Gil Yoon
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070969 - 2 Apr 2025
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Abstract
The rapid advancement of wearable electronics and the Internet of Things (IoT) has driven the demand for sustainable power sources to replace conventional batteries. In this study, we developed a high-performance, lead-free triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) using methylammonium tin chloride (MASnCl3) perovskite–poly(methyl [...] Read more.
The rapid advancement of wearable electronics and the Internet of Things (IoT) has driven the demand for sustainable power sources to replace conventional batteries. In this study, we developed a high-performance, lead-free triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) using methylammonium tin chloride (MASnCl3) perovskite–poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite films. MASnCl3 was synthesized via an anti-solvent-assisted collision technique and incorporated into a flexible PMMA matrix to enhance dielectric properties, thereby improving triboelectric output. The optimized 10 wt% MASnCl3–PMMA composite-based TENG exhibited a maximum output voltage of 525 V, a current of 13.6 µA, and of power of 2.5 mW, significantly outperforming the many halide perovskite-based TENGs. The device demonstrated excellent pressure sensitivity, achieving 7.72 V/kPa in voltage detection mode and 0.2 μA/kPa in current detection mode. The device demonstrated excellent mechanical stability and was successfully used to power a small electronic device. The findings highlight the potential of halide perovskite–polymer composites in developing eco-friendly, efficient mechanical energy harvesters for next-generation self-powered electronics and sensor applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Composites for Nanogenerator Applications)
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Review

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49 pages, 7115 KiB  
Review
Emerging Trends in Silane-Modified Nanomaterial–Polymer Nanocomposites for Energy Harvesting Applications
by Vadakkaveedu Subramanian Niranjana, Sathiyanathan Ponnan, Arvind Mukundan, Arun Anand Prabu and Hsiang-Chen Wang
Polymers 2025, 17(10), 1416; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17101416 - 21 May 2025
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Abstract
Nanomaterials (NMs) have gained tremendous attention in various applications in the modern era. The most significant challenge associated with NMs is their strong propensity to aggregate. The chemical surface modification of NMs has garnered notable attention in managing NM dispersion and aggregation. Among [...] Read more.
Nanomaterials (NMs) have gained tremendous attention in various applications in the modern era. The most significant challenge associated with NMs is their strong propensity to aggregate. The chemical surface modification of NMs has garnered notable attention in managing NM dispersion and aggregation. Among the modification approaches, the silane modification of NMs has generated great interest among researchers as a versatile approach to tailoring the surface characteristics of NMs. This review comprehensively examined the recent advancements in silane modification techniques with a focus on triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) applications. It provides an overview of silane chemistry and its interaction with diverse NMs, elucidating the underlying mechanisms governing the successful surface functionalization process. This review emphasized the silane modification, such as improved mechanical properties of composites, enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity, functional coatings, water treatment, textile industries, catalysis, membrane applications, and biomedical applications, of various NMs. In particular, the role of silane-modified NMs in advancing energy harvesting technologies was highlighted, showcasing their potential to enhance the performance and stability of next-generation devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Composites for Nanogenerator Applications)
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65 pages, 9353 KiB  
Review
Advancing Nanogenerators: The Role of 3D-Printed Nanocomposites in Energy Harvesting
by Riyamol Kallikkoden Razack and Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni
Polymers 2025, 17(10), 1367; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17101367 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 194
Abstract
Nanogenerators have garnered significant scholarly interest as a groundbreaking approach to energy harvesting, encompassing applications in self-sustaining electronics, biomedical devices, and environmental monitoring. The rise of additive manufacturing has fundamentally transformed the production processes of nanocomposites, allowing for the detailed design and refinement [...] Read more.
Nanogenerators have garnered significant scholarly interest as a groundbreaking approach to energy harvesting, encompassing applications in self-sustaining electronics, biomedical devices, and environmental monitoring. The rise of additive manufacturing has fundamentally transformed the production processes of nanocomposites, allowing for the detailed design and refinement of materials aimed at optimizing energy generation. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of 3D-printed nanocomposites in the context of nanogenerator applications. By employing layer-by-layer deposition, multi-material integration, and custom microstructural architectures, 3D-printed nanocomposites exhibit improved mechanical properties, superior energy conversion efficiency, and increased structural complexity when compared to their conventionally manufactured counterparts. Polymers, particularly those with inherent dielectric, piezoelectric, or triboelectric characteristics, serve as critical functional matrices in these composites, offering mechanical flexibility, processability, and compatibility with diverse nanoparticles. In particular, the careful regulation of the nanoparticle distribution in 3D printing significantly enhances piezoelectric and triboelectric functionalities, resulting in a higher energy output and greater consistency. Recent investigations into three-dimensional-printed nanogenerators reveal extraordinary outputs, encompassing peak voltages of as much as 120 V for BaTiO3-PVDF composites, energy densities surpassing 3.5 mJ/cm2, and effective d33 values attaining 35 pC/N, thereby emphasizing the transformative influence of additive manufacturing on the performance of energy harvesting. Furthermore, the scalability and cost-effectiveness inherent in additive manufacturing provide substantial benefits by reducing material waste and streamlining multi-phase processing. Nonetheless, despite these advantages, challenges such as environmental resilience, long-term durability, and the fine-tuning of printing parameters remain critical hurdles for widespread adoption. This assessment highlights the transformative potential of 3D printing in advancing nanogenerator technology and offers valuable insights into future research directions for developing high-efficiency, sustainable, and scalable energy-harvesting systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer Composites for Nanogenerator Applications)
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