Thermodynamic prediction of ferroelectric mechanical to electrical energy harvesting capabilities utilizing phase dependent electromechanical coupling factors

Abstract

Prediction of the mechanical to electrical energy harvesting capabilities in [011]C cut PIN-PMN-PT is presented as a function of thermodynamic analysis of hysteresis in the stress induced ferroelectric phase transformation, and phase dependency of the electromechanical coupling factors. Energy conversion rates vary from 0.528 for low transformation hysteresis to 0.432 for high transformation hysteresis. While these predicted values are lower than the experimentally determined value from literature (“approximately 60%”), differences are explained through limitations of the mechanical loading mechanism. This brings the predicted values into agreement with literature. Ferroelectric rhombohedral phase behavior is found to dominate energy harvesting capabilities.