Triboelectric nanogenerator using multiferroic materials: An approach for energy harvesting and self-powered magnetic field detection

Multiferroic materials predominantly formed by the coexistence of more than one primary ferroic ordering and also responsible for coupling in between these ferroic ordering. The objective of this paper is to develop multiferroic materials by coupling the ferroelectric property in BaTiO3 with magnetic property in rare earth orthoferrites (RFeO3, R- rare earth). In this report for the first time, we have introduced a room-temperature multiferroic material (1-x) BaTiO3- x ErFeO3, where x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 and its role in the development of internal hybrid configuration based multi-unit hybrid energy harvesting device (combining triboelectric and piezoelectric effect). Here the structural and electrical properties of multiferroic material are being investigated and analyzed. The particles were synthesized using a mixed oxide route, and the experimental structural, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic properties were investigated systematically. Further, the multiferroic/PDMS piezo composite film acts as an active layer for multiferroic based piezo- tribo hybrid generator (MF-HG). The multi-unit MF-HG comprising of the composite (PDMS/ BTEFO) rough surface film generates a maximum electrical output of 320 V, 12 µA respectively. The magnetic property in this material is then used for detecting the stray magnetic field generated from the household appliances, proving that the MF-HG is a promising candidate as a self-powered magnetic field sensor.