Conducting polymer-based generators for vibro-electrochemomechanical energy conversion and harvesting

Abstract

Energy harvesting technologies have received much attention to alleviate providing energy crisis by batteries for different applications including sensors and actuators. Compared to other sources, mechanical energy is more available and most widely distributed. Conducting polymers as piezoionic materials have gained a large number of attention in light of their advantages of having promising electrical and mechanical properties for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. In this paper, conducting polymer-based PEDOT/IPN/PEDOT trilayer structure is proposed for electrochemomechanical energy harvesting applications. For the proposed trilayer power generator, the vibro-electrochemomechanical model is demonstrated. In this modeling approach, the mechanical behavior of the trilayer is modeled in finite element software to capture the induced strain due to vibration input. Resistive-capacitive transmission line model is implemented to model the electrochemical response of the trilayer to mechanical input which is induced strain and predict the generated voltage. Finally, the simulation results show the ability of the energy harvester to convert the 2 g and 20 mm input acceleration and displacement to electrical energy and generate 986 µW power. This model enables one to find the best parameters and also calculate the potential generating power to have an optimal design.