The co-operative performance of a hydrated salt assisted sponge like P(VDF-HFP) piezoelectric generator: an effective piezoelectric based energy harvester.

We have prepared hydrated salt filler assisted sponge like P(VDF-HFP) micro-porous electroactive films to fabricate a high performance flexible piezoelectric generator (FPG). These FPGs deliver up to 8 V of open circuit voltage under external stress and also generate enough power to turn on at least fifteen commercial blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) instantly. Furthermore, capacitors have been successfully charged by repeated finger touches indicating the potential of the FPGs to be used as self-powered devices where different types of mechanical vibrations can be applied. The high performance of FPGs might be attributed to the co-operative contribution from the porous electret structure and electroactive nature of the P(VDF-HFP) film, as they also enhance the dielectric permittivity. This approach is simple, cost-effective, and well-suited for large-scale fabrication of high-performance FPGs.