Improving the efficiency of PZT-based piezoelectric energy harvesting by mixing MWCNTs under solar radiation

Abstract

In previous studies, we obtained sufficient electricity to turn on a light-emitting diode by amplifying the solar radiation pressure (SRP) using surface plasmons generated on a metal surface. However, the efficiency of piezoelectric generators must be improved to use them in various applications, such as Internet of Things (IoT) sensor devices. In this study, we fabricated a light-pressure electric generator with a piezoelectric layer comprising a Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PZT-MWCNTs) composite. The piezoelectric efficiency of the composite increased owing to the additional stress generated at the interface between MWCNTs and PZT when SRP was applied. The role of MWCNTs within the piezoelectric layer was analyzed using COMSOL Multiphysics simulations. Under a solar simulator (AM 1.5G), the power density increased by approximately 230% when the concentration of MWCNTs was 10 wt% compared with when the concentration was 0 wt%. However, at a concentration of 20 wt%, not only did the crystallinity of the piezoelectric layer deteriorate, but the output decreased owing to the formation of conductive networks.