Research

Engineering Sciences

Title :

Fabrication of Tunsten Diselenide (WSe?) Based Nanocomposite Thin Films for Piezoelectric and Triboelectric Applications

Area of research :

Engineering Sciences

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Ishant Chauhan, Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT), Roorkee (Saharanpur Campus), Uttarakhand

Timeline Start Year :

2024

Timeline End Year :

2026

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

India aims to reduce its GDP emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. The rapid consumption of fossil fuels has raised concerns among the scientific community, leading to the development of alternative renewable energy sources. Nanotechnology has introduced nanogenerators that convert mechanical energy into electric energy, promoting green energy harvesting. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are known for their interesting and tunable properties, with transition metal selenides being more stable semiconductors. Tungsten diselenide (WSe?) is known for its optical properties and photovoltaic and sensing properties. WSe? exhibits a hexagonal crystal structure made from weakly coupled layers Se-W-Se, with a two selenium layers sandwiched by a tungsten layer held together by van der Walls interaction. WSe? shows great anisotropy due to its weak layered structure and weak van der Walls interaction, making it suitable for various applications such as energy storage, photocatalysis, electrochemical, and gas sensing. This study focuses on the triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators of WSe?-based composites. WSe? is reported as a piezoelectric material in some experimental and theoretical studies but is not fully explored compared to other TMDs. Its chemical stability and moisture resistance make it suitable for various device fabrication applications. The objectives of this study include synthesizing nanostructured titanium diselenide (WSe?), studying its structural, morphological, and optical properties, fabricating thin films of synthesized powder and its composite with other compounds, studying the fabricated films for piezoelectric and triboelectric properties, and exploring the possibility of real-time device fabrication.

Organizations involved