The development of a low‐cost, sustainable bamboo‐based flexible bio composite for impact sensing and mechanical energy harvesting applications

Abstract An increasing trend in creating materials with a greater extent of sustainability from an ecological and financial perspective involves usage of bio resources and industrial residues. In this paper, leftover bamboo micro particles (BMP) from bamboo factories were collected and used as fillers with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix in varying concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 wt.%) to fabricate low‐cost composite films using solvent casting route for mechanical energy harvesting purpose. Out of the prepared samples, PVDF with 5 wt.% BMP showed maximum electroactive phase content (82%), tensile strength (34.23 MPa), and piezoelectric voltage (6.5 V) among the untreated samples. PVDF with 5 wt.% BMP is then subjected to NaOH treatment for further enhancement in overall performance. PVDF with 5 wt.% treated BMP also showed 467% increment in output voltage and 235% increment in output current as compared to pure PVDF. The piezoelectric output voltage of PVDF with 5 wt.% treated BMP is then measured under impact loading conditions to determine its suitability as an impact sensor. A bamboo‐based piezoelectric impact sensor that is highly sensitive and cost‐effective opens enormous possibilities for sustainability and circular economies.