Structural, Morphological and Electrochemical Studies of Synthesized BaCuTiO3 Doped NiTiO3 Nanocomposites for Energy Storage Application

Abstract

This research explores the development of Ba0.8Cu0.2TiO3 and NiTiO3 nanocomposites for use in high-performance flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (FPEHs). This study aims to address the brittleness of traditional piezoceramics by developing flexible nanocomposites that are compatible with wearable electronics. The nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized using various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (C-V) measurements were employed to evaluate the electrical properties, while piezoelectric modeling and various circuit designs were explored to optimize energy efficiency. The results demonstrate that the addition of NiTiO3 to Ba0.8Cu0.2TiO3 alters the electrical and magnetic properties of the composite, enhancing its suitability for energy storage applications. The energy storage applications of the nanocomposites were evaluated by measuring output voltage, stored energy, open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current. These findings indicated that Ba0.8Cu0.2TiO3-NiTiO3 nanocomposites are the promising materials for flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters, offering improved mechanical flexibility, energy conversion efficiency and environmental stability. This work contributes to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions for powering low-power electronics and portable devices.