An electromechanical model of ferroelectret for energy harvesting

Abstract

A ferroelectret is a cellular polymer foam that is able to convert compressive and bending forces into electrical signals, which can be used for both sensing and energy harvesting. In the past several research groups have proposed theoretical models that relate the output voltage of a ferroelectret to its mechanical deformation. This is particularly useful for sensing applications where the signal-to-noise ratio is important. However, for energy harvesting applications, a theoretical model needs to include both the voltage across a resistive load and the duration of the electrical signal as energy is an integral of power over time. In this work, we propose a theoretical model that explains the behavior of a ferroelectret when used as an energy harvester. This model can be used to predict the energy output of a ferroelectret by knowing its parameters, and therefore optimize the harvester design for specific energy harvesting application.