INST Mohali's nanogold-PVDF ultrathin film boosts pyroelectricity for self-powered sensors
Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, reported on 18 May 2026 that adding a small amount of nanogold to ultrathin PVDF films sharply improves their ability to turn small temperature changes into electricity.
Summary
Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have shown that embedding a minute amount of nanogold in the ferroelectric polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) greatly boosts its pyroelectric performance, its ability to generate electricity from temperature changes. The team, led by Prof Dipankar Mandal with collaborators including Sudip Naskar, added hexagonal nanogold particles to films thinner than 100 nanometres and obtained a nearly pure polar phase of PVDF with highly ordered dipoles. The films showed efficient pyroelectric conversion over a small temperature range of 294â301 K, which suits wearable energy harvesting and ambient thermal sensing. The work was published in Advanced Functional Materials.
Key facts
- Institute
- INST Mohali (DST autonomous institute)
- Team lead
- Prof Dipankar Mandal (with Sudip Naskar)
- Material
- PVDF ultrathin film (<100 nm) with hexagonal nanogold
- Effect
- Boosted pyroelectricity; nearly pure polar phase with ordered dipoles
- Temperature range
- 294â301 K
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Uses
- Self-powered sensors, photodetectors, wearable electronics, low-grade heat harvesting
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The INST Mohali study of May 2026 embedded nanogold in which polymer to boost pyroelectric performance?
Show answer
Correct answer: B â Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
The team engineered ultrathin films of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a ferroelectric polymer, with hexagonal nanogold.
'Pyroelectricity', improved in the INST Mohali nanogold films, refers to the ability of a material to:
Show answer
Correct answer: A â generate electricity from changes in temperature
PIB defines pyroelectric performance as the ability to generate electricity from changes in temperature.