Browsing by Author "Anandhan, S."

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A comparative study on the physico-chemical properties of sol-gel electrospun cobalt oxide nanofibres from two different polymeric binders
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015) George, G.; Anandhan, S.
In this study, two different sacrificial polymeric binders, namely poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) along with cobalt acetate tetrahydrate (CATH), as the metal oxide precursor, were used for the fabrication of Co3O4 nanofibres through sol-gel electrospinning. It was observed that the degradation behaviour and physical properties of SAN and PEtOx influenced the structure, morphology and spectral properties of Co3O4 nanofibres, as the properties of the nanofibres obtained from the aforementioned systems were compared with each other. The grain size, shape and the activation energies for grain growth of Co3O4 nanofibres obtained from these two polymeric systems were different. This difference in grain size and shape caused a difference in the optical band gap energies and the magnetic properties of the Co3O4 nanofibres. This study reveals that one can tailor the characteristics of cobalt oxide nanofibres by an appropriate selection of polymeric binders for sol-gel electrospinning. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.
A Facile Strategy to Achieve High Piezoelectric Performance in Electrospun Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) Non-woven Nanofabrics
(Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers, 2024) Khalifa, M.; Kumar, M.; Subramanian, G.; Anandhan, S.
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with its piezoelectric characteristics holds the potential to be the promising candidate in microdevices, sensors and actuators. In this study, a facile strategy was adopted to augment the electroactive β-phase of electrospun PVDF non-woven nanofabric. Electrospun PVDF non-woven fabric was mechanically stretched at different strain rates. SEM images revealed that upon stretching the non-woven fabric, the fibers tend to orient along the stretching direction. The fibers from the necked region were characterized to understand effect of stretching on the polymorphism, crystallinity and piezoelectric performance. The β-phase content of PVDF increased upon increasing the strain rate, while the degree of crystallinity decreased slightly. The highest β-phase content of 79% was achieved for electrospun PVDF non-woven fabric stretched at 10 mm/min. Further, the piezoelectric performance of the stretched nanofabric was evaluated to assess its electroactive characteristics. The piezoelectric performance of electrospun PVDF fabric was studied by imparting the pressure/load by one-finger tapping, hand pressure and dropping weight. The highest output voltage and current of 8.4 V and 249 nA, respectively were obtained from the electrospun PVDF non-woven stretched at 10 mm/min, which is almost 8 times higher than that of the unstretched PVDF non-woven. Given the flexibility, lightweight with good piezoelectric performance these electrospun PVDF non-woven fabrics could be a potential material for energy harvesting and self-powered nano-electronic devices. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.) © The Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers 2023.
A high thermally stable polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based gel polymer electrolyte for rechargeable Mg-ion battery
(Springer, 2020) Singh, R.; Janakiraman, S.; Khalifa, M.; Anandhan, S.; Ghosh, S.; Adyam, A.; Biswas, K.
The ionic conductivity and thermal stability of the electrolyte-separator system is an essential parameter for improving battery performance and safety. The present work addresses the high thermally stable gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a polymer membrane and magnesium perchlorate in propylene carbonate (Mg(ClO4)2-PC) as a liquid electrolyte. The PAN based polymer membrane is prepared by electrospinning process which produces a bead free and uniformly distributed nanofibers. The electrospun PAN based GPE is characterized by different physical and electrochemical techniques like X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, ionic conductivity, linear sweep voltammetry, magnesium ion transference number and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The ionic conductivity of PAN is 3.28 mS cm?1, compared to that of PP Celgard is 1.97 × 10–4 mS cm?1 at 30 °C. The electrochemical stability of PAN is 4.6 V and also exhibits excellent interfacial stability with magnesium metal. The results showed that the PAN-based GPE has higher ionic conductivity and thermal stability than the polypropylene (PP) Celgard membrane. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
A Mechanistic Study on the Structure Formation of NiCo2O4 Nanofibers Decorated with In Situ Formed Graphene-Like Structures
(Springer New York LLC barbara.b.bertram@gsk.com, 2018) Kumar, B.; Gudla, V.C.; Ambat, R.; Kalpathy, S.K.; Anandhan, S.
Nickel cobaltite (NCO) nanofibers were synthesized using poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) as the polymeric binder through sol–gel assisted electrospinning. Defect-free precursor nanofiber mats were pyrolyzed at 773 K at three different pyrolysis soaking times t = 2, 4, and 6 h. The SAN present in the precursor nanofibers caused morphological changes in the NCO nanofibers during their thermochemical degradation. Consequently, fractal aggregates of NCO nanoparticles were formed along the length of the nanofibers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed both + 2 and + 3 oxidation states for Ni and Co, with spinel crystal defects due to oxygen rich atmosphere. XPS, high-resolution transmission microscopy, and optical analysis showed graphene-like structures embedded within the NCO nanofibers. With increase in pyrolysis soaking time, the morphology of the NCO particles markedly changed from spherical to rod-like. We propose a mechanism for the morphological change of NCO nanoparticles on the basis of crystallite splitting accompanied by particle splitting and reordering. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
A new multifunctional energy harvester based on mica nanosheet-dispersed PVDF nanofabrics featuring piezo-capacitive, piezoelectric and triboelectric effects
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023) Ekbote, G.S.; Khalifa, M.; Venkatesa Perumal, B.; Anandhan, S.
In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the popularity of piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators as alternative power sources for miniature devices and internet of things devices (IoT). Herein, piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNG) and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) based on mica nanosheet (MNS)-infused poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite nanofabrics were developed. The morphology, crystallinity, and polymorphism of PVDF/MNS composite nanofabrics were studied using different characterization techniques. The incorporation of MNS into PVDF resulted in enhanced electroactive β-phase content, reaching a maximum of 84.3% in the composite nanofabric containing 0.75 wt% of MNS. The same nanofabric exhibited a dielectric constant ∼1.64 times that of pure PVDF nanofabric, substantially enhancing the capacitive sensing capability by ∼4.4 times. The PNG developed using the nanofabric containing 0.75 wt% of MNS displayed an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of ∼8.4 V and a power density of ∼3 μW cm−2 when subjected to 8 N force. The TENG based on the aforementioned nanofabric produced a maximum VOC of ∼163 V and a power density of ∼585 μW cm−2 when subjected to one-finger tapping. With the same TENG upon one-finger tapping, 35 LEDs were illuminated. A fluttering-driven TENG utilizing the same nanofabric generated a maximum VOC of ∼70 V when exposed to a wind speed of 7 m s−1. The results indicate that the nanofabrics developed herein could potentially be utilized to fabricate energy harvesting devices to power health monitoring sensors, IoT and nano/micro devices. © 2023 RSC.
A new strategy of PVDF based Li-salt polymer electrolyte through electrospinning for lithium battery application
(Institute of Physics Publishing helen.craven@iop.org, 2019) Janakiraman, S.; Surendran, A.; Ghosh, S.; Anandhan, S.; Adyam, A.
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafine fibers with different proportions of lithium nitrate (LiNO3) were fabricated by an electrospinning device. The processing parameters are optimized to 19 wt% PVDF to get a bead free structure. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) showed the uniform and interconnected porous structure. With the addition of 2 wt% LiNO3, the fiber diameter of the electrospun membrane decreased from 371 to 222 nm. Furthermore, the addition of LiNO3 into the nanofibrous membrane enhanced the ionic conductivity from 0.97 ×10-3 S cm-1 to 1.61 ×10-3 S cm-1 at room temperature after soaking with 1 M LiPF6 (lithium hexafluoro-phosphate) in ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) in (1:1 wt%). Compared with the conventional Celgard and pristine PVDF membrane, the salt doped PVDF membranes showed higher electrochemical stability window and lower interfacial resistance. The electrospun membrane separators (ES) were assembled into Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) as cathode and lithium metal as an anode. The salt doped membrane showed superior discharge, C-rate and stable cycle performance than the commercial Celgard membrane. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.
A study on electroactive PVDF/mica nanosheet composites with an enhanced ?-phase for capacitive and piezoelectric force sensing
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021) Khalifa, M.; Schoeffmann, E.; Lammer, H.; Mahendran, A.R.; Wuzella, G.; Anandhan, S.
Herein, a multifunctional poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/mica nanosheet composite (PMNC) thin film was developed for preparing a capacitive and piezoelectric force sensor. A high electroactive ?-phase content (89%) of PVDF was achieved through a facile rapid cooling process of PMNC films. The crystallinity of PVDF decreased upon the addition of mica nanosheets, while the dielectric constant increased significantly (?300%). The capacitance-based PMNC pressure sensor was found to be sensitive to the applied pressure. On the other hand, piezoelectric voltages of 18 V (single layer) and 32 V (multi-layer) were generated for PMNCs loaded with 1% mica nanosheets. Furthermore, a PMNC based nanogenerator generated a power density of 8.8 ?W cm?2and showed excellent durability (>60?000 cycles). High flexibility, lightweight and skin-friendly PMNCs could be a potential material in applications such as energy harvesting, energy storage, actuators, and self-powered and smart wearable electronic devices. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021.
A systematic analysis on the electrospinnability of biocompatible poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)
(Institute of Physics, 2025) Das, A.; Anandhan, S.; Chethan, K.N.; Salins, S.S.; Shetty, R.; Shetty, S.
Fine-tuning electrospun nanofibers is crucial for producing high-quality fibers. Taguchi Design of Experiment (DOE), along with various other computational techniques, has been used to optimize the electrospinning parameters of different polymers. Taguchi DOE has proven effective in optimizing electrospun nanofibers because it reduces the number of trials needed. In this study, the electrospinning parameters of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) were optimized and quantified using the Taguchi-based Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach. The average fiber diameters were measured from Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) images using ImageJ software. Within the tested range of parameters and levels, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) study identified polymer concentration and flow rate as the most significant factors that influenced the fiber diameter. Polymer concentration accounting 56.94% of the variation, while Flow Rate (FR) accounts for 20.82%. The optimal parameter levels were predicted to be 10 wt% polymer concentration, 1 ml h?1 flow rate, 18 kV voltage, and a distance from tip to target of 15 cm, which yielded fibers with an average diameter of 231 nm and an accuracy of 88.61%. Overall, the results demonstrate that Taguchi DOE, coupled with RSM, is a reliable and efficient method for identifying the optimal parameter combinations to produce uniform, fine PBAT nanofibers intended for biomedical applications. © 2025 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.
An electroactive ?-phase polyvinylidene fluoride as gel polymer electrolyte for magnesium–ion battery application
(Elsevier B.V., 2019) Singh, R.; Janakiraman, S.; Khalifa, M.; Anandhan, S.; Ghosh, S.; Adyam, A.; Biswas, K.
The gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are currently interesting research area in rechargeable batteries. In the present study, synthesis and characterization of electroactive gel polymer electrolyte (EGPE) for Mg-ion batteries application have been investigated. The bead free electroactive polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with high porosity is achieved by an electrospinning process. The ?-phase of PVDF is polar and electroactive with a high dipole moment. Electroactive ?-phase is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) study is done to analyze the structure and morphology of the electroactive membrane. The electroactive gel polymer electrolyte is formed by immersing an electroactive PVDF membrane in 0.3 M magnesium perchlorate (MgClO4) and propylene carbonate (PC) solution. The ionic conductivity of electroactive ?-phase PVDF membrane is achieved to be 1.49 mS cm?1 at 30 °C, which is higher than commercial available polypropylene (PP) Celgard. Tortuosity of electroactive gel polymer electrolyte is found to be 1.44. The voltage stability of the EGPE is stable up to a high voltage of 5.0 V against Mg+2/Mg. The total ionic transference number and magnesium ion transference number of EGPE are also investigated to confirm high ionic conductivity. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.
An Investigation on the Acetone and Ethanol Vapor-Sensing Behavior of Sol-Gel Electrospun ZnO Nanofibers Using an Indigenous Setup
(American Chemical Society, 2023) Prabhu, N.N.; Shivamurty, B.; Anandhan, S.; Rajendra, B.V.; Jagadeesh Chandra, J.C.R.; Srivathsa, M.
The calibration is essential for accuracy, repeatability, and continuous trouble-free operation of gas sensors with safety. Most gas sensors are fabricated using metal oxide nanomaterials in different structures such as films, coating, or nanofibers. Therefore, a device in the sensor manufacturing industry is necessary to test, calibrate, and optimize metal oxide structures. In this point of view, a simple device is developed to test and estimate the sensing response, response time, and recovery time of nanostructures. The sol-gel method was used to produce nanofibers through electrospinning. An average fiber diameter of 245 nm was obtained after pyrolysis at 600 °C. The structure and composition of ZnO nanofibers are confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. The trials were taken using ZnO nanofibers in the presence of acetone and ethanol vapor, and the results were reported. High response (31.74), rapid response (40 s), and recovery (30 s) times have been achieved for ethanol gas to 50 ppm concentration test gas at an optimal temperature of 260 °C. The results obtained from the trials are compared with the literature results, which are in line with the values presented by the various researchers. Due to the low cost, easy maintenance, and accuracy, this device is recommended in metal oxide sensor development industries and laboratories. © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society
Cationic surfactant assisted enhancement of dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PVDF nanofibers for energy harvesting application
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021) Ekbote, G.S.; Khalifa, M.; Mahendran, A.; Anandhan, S.
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is among the most versatile polymers due to its wide range of properties, including dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties. However, more frequently than not a range of processing routes and/or additives have been used to enhance such properties. In this study, PVDF nanofibers were electrospun from PVDF solution that contained tetra-n-butyl ammonium chloride (TBAC) at different loadings (1, 2, 3, and 5 wt%). The effect of TBAC on the morphology, crystallinity, and polymorphism of PVDF was studied using various characterization techniques. Addition of TBAC significantly improved the electroactive ?-phase of PVDF. The highest ?-phase content of 89% was attained at a TBAC loading of 3 wt%. Consequently, the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the PVDF nanofibers improved significantly. A nanogenerator fabricated using 3 wt% TBAC/PVDF nanofibers exhibited the maximum voltage output of 17.2 V (under 5 N force) and the maximum power density of ?1.4 ?W cm?2(under 3 N force). Improved dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PVDF upon the addition of a small amount of TBAC could be useful for researchers in upbringing the material for flexible electronic devices. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021.
Characterization of composites based on biodegradable poly(vinyl alcohol) and nanostructured fly ash with an emphasis on polymer-filler interaction
(SAGE Publications Ltd info@sagepub.co.uk, 2016) Patil, A.G.; SelvaKumar, M.; Anandhan, S.
A thermal power station fly ash (FA) was mechanochemically activated by high-energy ball milling that yielded nanostructured FA. This nanostructured FA was incorporated into biodegradable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix by solution mixing and ultrasonication. Transmission electron micrographs revealed that the smooth spherical particles of FA were changed into irregular and rough ones; in addition, the particle size of FA was reduced to a few hundred nanometers, and its specific surface area value increased after the high-energy milling process. All these factors, in turn, led to a thermodynamically favorable interaction between the mechanochemically activated FA and PVA as evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The incorporation of a very small amount of the nanostructured FA led to an increase in crystallinity of the polymer matrix. The glass transition temperature of the PVA matrix increased by about 18°C when 5 wt% of the nanostructured FA was used as the reinforcement. © The Author(s) 2014.
Characterization of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-carbon monoxide)/layered silicate clay hybrids obtained by melt mixing
(2011) Anandhan, S.; Patil, H.G.; Babu, R.R.
In recent times, polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites have drawn a great deal of attention because they often exhibit tremendous improvements in material properties compared with virgin polymers or conventional microor macro-composites. In the present study, nanocomposites were developed from organically modified clay and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-carbon monoxide) by melt mixing. FTIR spectroscopy reveals that the interaction between the organoclay and EVACO is thermodynamically favored. High resolution wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the morphology of the nanocomposites. Elemental mapping by scanning electron microscopy indicates good dispersion and distribution of the nanoclay in EVACO matrix. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are optimum at a clay loading of 3%. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.
Chemical-resistant Ultrafine Poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) Fibers by Electrospinning: Process Optimization by Design of Experiment
(2013) Senthil, T.; George, G.; Anandhan, S.
The effects of solution and processing parameters on the morphology and diameter of electrospun poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) fibers were investigated by design of experiment. Morphology of the electrospun fiber mats were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. With increasing solution concentration, fiber morphology changed from that of a spindle-like beaded one to smooth, and the average fiber diameter increased from 96 to 876 nm. Average fiber diameter gradually increased with applied voltage; however, fiber morphology was only slightly influenced by flow rate. Regression analysis results reveal that solution concentration has the most significant impact on the average and standard deviation of fiber diameter. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Chitosan composites reinforced with nanostructured waste fly ash
(Springer Japan, 2017) Patil, A.G.; Poornachandra, S.; Gumageri, R.; Rajkumar, K.; Anandhan, S.
This paper outlines the preparation and characterization of chitosan (CS) composites reinforced with mechano-chemically activated fly ash (MCA-FA). A series of composite films was prepared by solution casting method with varying filler content. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed good compatibility between the CS matrix and MCA-FA. The surface roughness and irregularity in shape of MCA-FA resulted in its efficient mechanical interlocking with the polymer matrix. This, in turn enhanced the mechanical properties of these composites. All the composite films exhibited a higher tensile strength and a lower percentage of elongation-at-break compared with the pure CS film. The highest tensile strength was observed for the composite films with 1 wt% of filler loading and the reduction in the tensile properties at higher filler loading was due to agglomeration of filler and polymer–filler interface debonding. The tensile strength data were analyzed using Nielsen and Pukanzsky models to understand the interface formation and polymer–filler interactions. Thermal properties showed a marginal improvement due to the incorporation of MCA-FA. Overall, this study indicates that MCA-FA could be used as value added filler in polymer matrix composites. © 2016, Springer Japan.
Comparative Studies on Crystalline and Amorphous Vinylidene Fluoride Based Fibrous Polymer Electrolytes for Sodium-Ion Batteries
(Springer Singapore, 2020) Janakiraman, S.; Khalifa, M.; Biswal, R.; Ghosh, S.; Anandhan, S.; Adyam, A.
In the present work, electrospun poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly (vinylidene fluoride-co hexafluropropylene) (P(VdF-co-HFP)) fibrous membranes have been compared. Porous homo and copolymer fiber-based membranes with an interconnected structure, high porosity, large electrolyte uptake were prepared by an electrospinning route. The effect of crystallinity in terms of X-ray diffraction (XRD) was investigated for the fibrous polymer membranes (FPMs). The surface morphology of the FPMs is evaluated by field emission scanning electronmicroscopy (FESEM). The FPMswere soaked in 1MNaClO4-ethylene carbonate (EC)/diethyl carbonate (DEC) (1:1, vol%) solution to form fibrous polymer electrolytes (FPEs). The ionic conductivity of copolymer showed 1.126 mS cm−1 under ambient temperature (at 28 °C) higher than the homopolymer (0.79 mS cm−1) because of HFP unit. The electrochemical stability window of the copolymer membrane also enhanced and stable up to 4.9 V versus Na+/Na suitable for high voltage sodium rechargeable batteries. When tested with Na066Fe0.5Mn05O2 as cathode and Na metal as an anode, the cycle performance significantly improved for the copolymer. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.
Comparison of structural, spectral and magnetic properties of NiO nanofibers obtained by sol-gel electrospinning from two different polymeric binders
(Elsevier Ltd, 2015) George, G.; Anandhan, S.
NiO is a p-type semiconductor with wide band gap energy. In this study, nickel oxide nanofibers were fabricated by sol-gel electrospinning followed by high temperature calcination, using two sacrificial polymeric binders. Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) in water and styrene-acrylonitrile random copolymer (SAN) in N,N- dimethylformamide (DMF) along with nickel (II) acetate tetrahydrate (NATH), as metal oxide precursor, were the two distinct polymeric systems used in this study. The morphological and structural properties of NiO fibers obtained from the aforementioned systems were compared with each other. The degradation behavior of the sacrificial polymeric binder imparted a significant effect on the properties of the obtained NiO fibers. The grain sizes and the activation energies for grain growth of NiO fibers from two systems were different. The non-stoichiometric NiO fibers obtained from the SAN/NATH system had a better ferromagnetic behavior as compared with that produced from the PEtOx/NATH system. This non-stoichiometry made a difference also in the optical band gap energies of the NiO nanofibers. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
Development of a flexible piezoelectric and triboelectric energy harvester with piezo capacitive sensing ability from barium tungstate nanorod-dispersed PVDF nanofabrics
(Institute of Physics, 2023) Ekbote, G.S.; Khalifa, M.; Venkatesa Perumal, B.; Anandhan, S.
Lead-free flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PNG) and triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) are sought after due to their ability to produce electricity by harnessing wasteful mechanical energy. A comprehensive understanding of additives and processing techniques is crucial for fine-tuning the performance of such energy systems. We have investigated in detail the effect of the addition of reverse microemulsion synthesized barium tungstate nanorods (BWN) on morphology, crystallinity, polymorphism of electrospun nanofabrics of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). The electroactive phase content of the nanofabrics was enhanced upon the addition of BWN and the highest electroactive phase content of 86.5% was observed in the nanofabric containing 3 wt% of BWN. The dielectric constant of the nanofabric containing 5 wt% BWN was ∼1.96 times higher than that of pristine electrospun PVDF nanofabric (EPVDF). The ratio of relative change in the capacitance to initial capacitance of the sensor fabricated from the same system was ∼4 times greater than that of EPVDF. Consequently, its piezoelectric and triboelectric performances were improved. The PNG fabricated using the nanofabric containing 3 wt% BWN produced the highest open-circuit voltage of 8 V under an applied load of 8 N. A TENG made using the same system was able to produce a voltage output of 200 V, which was 1.77 times as high as that of EPVDF under one-finger tapping in contact-separation mode. The same composite nanofabric produced piezoelectric and triboelectric power densities of 4.3 µW cm−2 and 646 µW cm−2, respectively. The TENG was able to light 40 LEDs under one finger tapping. Fluttering-driven TENG fabricated using the aforementioned nanofabric was able to produce a triboelectric voltage of 84 V at a wind speed of 7 m s−1. Overall, these nanofabrics could be a potential material for energy harvesting devices for powering wearable devices, environmental sensors, and internet of things. © 2023 IOP Publishing Ltd
Development of a new flexible nanogenerator from electrospun nanofabric based on PVDF/talc nanosheet composites
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2020) Shetty, S.; Mahendran, A.R.; Anandhan, S.
Herein, a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator composed of electrospun talc/PVDF [poly(vinylidene fluoride)] nanocomposite fabrics has been developed. These nanocomposite fabrics demonstrated enhanced mechanical and piezoelectric properties compared with pristine PVDF nanofabrics. In particular, nanocomposite fabrics with 0.50 wt% talc yielded 89.6% of polar ?-phase in the PVDF matrix, thereby augmenting its piezoelectric response. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry conclusively affirmed the promotion of polar ?-phase in the talc/PVDF nanocomposite fabrics. The 0.50 wt% talc/PVDF nanocomposite fabric based nanogenerator produced an open-circuit voltage and power density of 9.1 V and 1.12 ?W cm-2, respectively, under repetitive finger tapping mode (under a load of 3.8 N). Furthermore, the nanogenerator was also subjected to frequency modulated-shaker mode, wherein an output voltage of 8.9 V was produced. Improved flexibility, mechanical robustness, and enhanced piezoelectric responsiveness of this nanogenerator could possibly pave the way for its use in portable self-powered devices. This journal is © 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Development of electrospun scaffolds for bone regeneration from strontium-doped hydroxyapatite nanorods and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Murugesan, S.; Patil, H.G.; Deshmukh, B.K.; N, S.; Asokan, A.; Mohapatra, A.; Lenka, N.; Anandhan, S.
Strontium based biomaterials have gained importance in bone tissue regeneration due to their incredible osteoinductivity and differentiation ability. In this study, strontium-doped hydroxyapatite nanorods [SrHAp, Ca9Sr(PO4)6(OH)2] were synthesized by the coprecipitation method. Subsequently, electrospun fibrous scaffolds were fabricated from thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) dispersed with SrHAp nanorods. The loading of SrHAp nanorods in TPU was varied from 1 wt% to 7 wt% in steps of 2. Morphology of electrospun fibrous scaffolds and the dispersion of nanorods in the TPU matrix were characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy, and elemental mapping by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, respectively. The scaffolds exhibited 3D interconnected network structure with well-distributed pores. The SrHAp nanorods were observed to be smoothly dispersed in the polymer matrix in the scaffolds using elemental mapping and transmission electron microscopy. The newly developed scaffolds exhibited adequate mechanical strength combined with good biocompatibility and excellent biomineralization characteristics. Further, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay of the electrospun scaffolds against gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (gMSCs) revealed excellent survival and growth rate of the cells. In addition, the osteoinductivity study using gMSCs confirms the better osteodifferentiation in the scaffold containing 5 wt% SrHAp compared with its counterparts by showing the expressions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN) and RUNX2. Among all the compositions, the one with 3 wt% SrHAp loading demonstrated promising results in terms of fiber uniformity, improved mechanical properties, and enhanced cell viability. Thus, the SrHAp/TPU scaffolds developed in this study have the potential for use in bone tissue regeneration. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd