Piezoelectric Energy Generation Research Articles

Molecular Mechanisms and Enhancement of Piezoelectricity in the M13 Virus

AbstractUnderstanding the structure and function of bioelectric materials is challenging due to the complex nature of biomaterials and a lack of appropriate tools. The precisely defined structures and genetic tunability of viruses provide an excellent model system to investigate bioelectrical behavior in biomaterials. This study presents the molecular mechanisms of piezoelectricity in the M13 bacteriophage (phage) under various mechanical stresses for bio‐piezoelectric generation. A computational approach is used to calculate the piezoelectric tensors of the M13 phage and quantify its direction‐dependent dipole moments. By computationally designing negatively charged residues on the phage surface, the surface charge density is enhanced to 16.7 µC cm−2. Using genetic engineering, phages are experimentally designed with different charges and tail structures to create model phage nanostructures, including individual phages, vertically standing phage films, and horizontally aligned phage films. Their vertical, horizontal, and shear‐mode piezoelectric properties are then measured using scanning probe microscopy techniques. The resulting phage‐based piezoelectric energy generators exhibit an effective piezoelectric coefficient of 15.4 pm V−1 and a power density of 4.2 µW cm−2. This phage‐based bioengineering approach provides a versatile platform for investigating fundamental mechanisms of bioelectricity and designing bioelectric materials for applications in energy harvesting, biomemory, and biosensors.

Oppositely Charged Interfacial Janus Nanoparticles Induce the Formation of Highly Ferroelectric Poling-Free PVDF Films for Piezoelectric Energy Generation

Oppositely Charged Interfacial Janus Nanoparticles Induce the Formation of Highly Ferroelectric Poling-Free PVDF Films for Piezoelectric Energy Generation

Analysis of a friction-induced vibration piezoelectric energy generator under linear, bi-linear, and impact conditions

The mismatch in natural frequencies between the piezoelectric energy generator and the energy source affects its energy generation performance. In this research, a novel piezoelectric energy generator with linear, bi-linear, and impact design configurations is proposed. The energy generator utilizes friction as excitation to achieve self-exciting friction-induced vibration (FIV) close to the systems’ resonant frequencies for piezoelectric energy generation. The dynamic response under FIV is described by a mathematical model incorporating the piezoelectric coupling effect. The energy generation from piezoelectric material is evaluated by simulating the charging process of a capacitor using an iterative method. The reliability of the model and the stable high-frequency FIV phenomenon with linear, bi-linear, and impact design configurations are validated by experiment. Furthermore, parameter studies are conducted to investigate their effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of energy generation. With a normal load FN = 30 N and an initial sliding velocity v0 = 0.542 m/s, the linear, bi-linear, and impact design configurations yield peak-to-peak voltages of approximately 2.9 V, 3.8 V, and 20.6 V, respectively. Higher voltages can be generated under optimal operating conditions. The proposed energy generator can be integrated into rotating or sliding equipment to harness the energy derived from FIV. Enhanced energy generation performance can be achieved by modifying structural design and incorporating materials with better properties. The current study paves the way for piezoelectric energy generation using FIV and explores the potential of utilizing dynamic frictional signals in sensing and structural health monitoring scenarios.

Boosting green EMI shielding and piezoelectric energy generation by defect-driven microstructure manipulation

Doping-induced defects can improve piezoelectric performance by increasing the d33 value of the 5-GLNPS device, while also improving magnetic and dielectric properties to regulate green EMI shielding in segregated PDMS/GNLKN/SWCNT composites.

Vanadium disulfide-incorporated polymer nanocomposites for flexible piezoelectric energy generators and road safety sensors

Piezoelectric materials have attracted considerable attention in the field of flexible electronics owing to their ability to convert mechanical strain into electrical energy.

Development and analysis of magnet-engaged piezoelectric energy generator under friction-induced vibration

Piezoelectric energy transducers, which can be an efficient solution for the power supply of wireless devices, have been widely researched. This study investigated the characteristics of a magnet-engaged nonlinear piezoelectric energy generator stimulated by friction-induced vibration (FIV), in two distinct design configurations (in-parallel and in-series). A mathematical model was developed, and the dynamic response of the mechanical system and voltage output from the piezoelectric shear deformation were solved using an iterative method. A friction model considering the Stribeck effect was introduced to describe the friction motion. The emergence of a stick-slip motion induced limit cycle and its vanishing delineates the unstable and stable regions of the system, respectively. A critical sliding velocity vc splits the regions. When the sliding velocity exceeds vc, the system remains in stable region with exclusive slip friction behavior. Parameter studies were conducted to explore the effect of decay factor β, dynamic friction coefficient μk, static friction coefficient μstatic, and normal force FN on vc. The results indicate that increasing β and μk can reduce the unstable region and generation of FIV, whereas, increasing FN and μstatic can promote the occurrence of FIV. The energy generation was evaluated by a transient charging simulation that has been experimentally validated in a previous study. The influence of β, μk, μstatic, and FN on the energy generation was also investigated relative to the operating velocity range (OVR) and sum of root mean square charging power (SRCP). The in-parallel systems exhibit a higher SRCP within the same OVR, whereas the in-series systems are more likely to excite FIV with a wider OVR. Additionally, the simulation results of fluctuating working conditions show that both fluctuating FN and v0 have negative effects on the energy generation. The nonlinear in-series system exhibits better robustness with the least affected SRCP and almost unchanged OVR under fluctuating FN and v0.

Dielectric and energy harvesting properties of functionalized composite nanofibers consisting of Boc-Phe-Leu self-assembled dipeptide inclusions in biocompatible polymeric matrices

Hybrid bionanomaterials were produced through electrospinning, incorporating the dipeptide Boc-l-phenylalanyl-l-leucine into nanofibers of biocompatible polymers. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the uniformity of the nanofibers, with diameters ranging from 0.56 to 1.61 µm. The dielectric properties of the nanofibers were characterized using impedance spectroscopy, assessing temperature and frequency dependencies. Notably, the composite micro/nanofibers exhibited semiconducting dielectric behavior with bandgap energies of 4–5 eV, and their analysis revealed increased dielectric constant with temperature due to enhanced charge mobility. The successful incorporation of the dipeptide was verified by Maxwell–Wagner interfacial polarization, and the Havriliak–Negami model disclosed insights into electric permittivity. Furthermore, the fibers demonstrated pyroelectric and piezoelectric responses, with Boc-Phe-Leu@PLLA nanofibers having the highest piezoelectric coefficient of 85 pC/N. These findings highlight the influence of dipeptide nanostructures on dielectric, pyroelectric, and piezoelectric properties, suggesting the potential of polymeric micro/nanofibers as efficient piezoelectric energy generators for portable and wearable devices.Graphical

Numerical investigation of nonlinear shear-mode piezoelectric energy generation under permanent magnetic conditions

Numerical investigation of nonlinear shear-mode piezoelectric energy generation under permanent magnetic conditions

ZnO/f-MWCNT as a potential candidate for supercapacitive energy storage and piezoelectric energy generation

Zinc oxide/ functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (ZnO/f-MWCNT) composite was synthesized in two simple steps. In the first step, MWCNT was functionalized using acid refluxing method and in the second step, ZnO/f-MWCNT composite was synthesized in situ via hydrothermal route. Next, possibility of the ZnO/f-MWCNT composite as a hybrid energy storage device was explored through detailed electrochemical and other required investigations. Aiming to real-life applications, a symmetric supercapacitor device was also fabricated followed by detailed performance evaluation. In the last part, energy harvesting possibilities of the ZnO/f-MWCNT composite through the fabrication of a piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) was also explored. To do so, ZnO/f-MWCNT/ polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite films with varying wt% of the filler (i.e. ZnO/f-MWCNT) were prepared. The structural, morphological, compositional, electrochemical and electrical attributes of both the materials were thoroughly investigated. Highest specific capacitance obtained from this ZnO/f-MWCNT electrode was 794 F/g (at 1 A/g) with a power density of 4152 W/kg (at 50 A/g). The PENG device yielded an open circuit voltage of ∼80 V with a power density of 72 kW/m3.

Improved interfacial mechanical strength and synergy in properties of nano-carbon black reinforced rubber composites containing functionalized graphite nanoplatelets

Due to increasing industrialization, the demand for energy continues to increase. In the present work, piezo-electric energy generation by a composite device was performed and demonstrated. Composites were prepared by solution mixing at room temperature silicone rubber (RTV-SR) precursor with fillers such as nano-carbon black (CB), functionalized graphite nanoplatelets (f-GNPs), and hybrids of CB and f-GNPs. GNPs as a graphite source were functionalized by oxidation using a modified Hummers’ method and subsequently reduced. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) studied the carbon and oxygen-containing functional groups, and their binding energies were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A noticeable and prolonged synergistic effect was noticed in hybrid composites in which the mechanical properties conferred by hybrid nanofillers were greater than those conferred by single nanofillers. This synergetic effect was due to improved interconnectivity between CB particles and f-GNP particles. Compressive and tensile mechanical properties showed the compressive moduli and tensile strengths of hybrid filler-based composites were markedly higher than those of composites containing CB and f-GNPs as only nanofillers. Moreover, energy generation was lower for the CB-based electrode than for CB-f-GNP hybrid-based electrode composites.

Control of Halogen Atom in Inorganic Metal-Halide Perovskites Enables Large Piezoelectricity for Electromechanical Energy Generation.

Regulating the strain of inorganic perovskites has emerged as a critical approach to control their electronic and optical properties. Here, an alternative strategy to further control the piezoelectric properties by substituting the halogen atom (I/Br) in the CsPbX3 perovskite (X = Cl, Br) structure is adopted. A series of piezoelectric materials with excellent piezoelectric coefficients (d33 ) are unveiled. Iodine-incorporated CsPbBr2 I demonstrates the record intrinsic piezoelectric response (d33 ≈47 pC N-1 ) among all inorganic metal halide perovskites. This leads to an excellent electrical output power of ≈ 0.375mW (24.8 µW cm-2 N-1 ) in the piezoelectric energy generator (PEG) which is higher than those of the pristine/mixed perovskite references with CsPbX3 (X = I, Br, Cl). With its structural phase remaining unchanged, the strained CsPbBr2 I retains its superior piezoelectricity in both thin film and nanocrystal powder forms, further demonstrating its repeatability and versatility of applications. The origin of high piezoelectricity is found to be due to halogen-induced anisotropic lattice strain in the unit-cell along the c-axis, and octahedral distortion. This study reveals an avenue to design new piezoelectric materials by modifying their halide constituents and paves the way to design efficient PEGs for improved electromechanical energy conversion.

Polyvinylidene Difluoride/Sb2S3 Composite Film as a Potential Candidate for Piezoelectric Energy Generation

Polyvinylidene Difluoride/Sb2S3 Composite Film as a Potential Candidate for Piezoelectric Energy Generation

Design and analysis of a d15 mode piezoelectric energy generator using friction-induced vibration

Research works have been conducted on transverse and longitudinal mode piezoelectric energy generation to collect energy from ambient vibrations. However, the inconsistency with the frequency of the energy source and low output power density remain problems for high energy output. In this work, we propose a shear mode piezoelectric energy generator, which utilizes the friction-induced vibration (FIV) and high shear mode piezoelectric coefficient to improve the energy output. A piezoelectric coupled FIV mathematical model is developed to accurately calculate the dynamic vibration response and voltage output. The dynamic voltage response is validated by experiment, and it proves the possibility of continuous friction-induced high-frequency vibration. The energy generation process is evaluated by transient charging simulation of a storage capacitor through an iteration process, which was experimentally validated in the literature. Parameter studies have been conducted to investigate the influences of the piezoelectric patch dimensional parameters, vibration system parameters, friction model parameters, methods of electrical connections, and different piezoelectric materials on the energy generation performance to provide guidance for better design. Under ideal experiment conditions with proper parameters, a volume of m3 PZT4 piezoelectric material indicates root mean square (RMS) charging power density of Wm−3 and Wm−3 with electrically in parallel and electrically in series, respectively. While using the same amount of material and structural setup, the single crystal PMN-PT piezoelectric material shows RMS charging power density of Wm−3 and Wm−3 with electrically in parallel and electrically in series, correspondingly. These promising results demonstrate that close to W-level RMS charging power output may be realized by structure optimization of energy generator design and incorporating multiple generators together for operation. Possible incorporation into vehicle braking systems can be considered to utilize the wasted friction energy, and it may offer an energy supply for low-power wireless devices.

Intelligent Device for Harvesting the Vibration Energy of the Automobile Exhaust with a Piezoelectric Generator

With increasing consumption of energy and increasing environmental pollution, research on capturing the vibration energy lost during transportation and vehicle driving is growing rapidly. There is a large amount of vibration energy in the automobile exhaust system that can be recycled. This paper proposes a self-powered intelligent device (SPID) using a piezoelectric energy generator. The SPID includes a piezoelectric generator and sensor unit, and the generator is installed at the end of the automobile exhaust system. The generator adopts a parallel structure of four piezoelectric power generation units, and the sensing unit comprises light-emitting diode warning lights or low-power sensors. A simulated excitation experiment verifies the working state and peak power of the piezoelectric generator unit, which can achieve 23.4 μW peak power. The self-power supply and signal monitoring functions of the intelligent device are verified in experiments conducted for driving light-emitting diode lights and low-power sensors. The device is expected to play a crucial role in the field of intelligent driving and automobile intelligence.

Modeling of ZnO Nanorods on Paper Substrate for Energy Harvesting

Nano devices are used for energy generation, storing, and harvesting. Among other metal oxides, ZnO shows high performance in piezoelectric energy generation. In this work, the analysis of the parameter dependency of the amount of energy generated for a piezoelectric material on a paper flexible substrate is done. The load is applied in the shape of lines and alphabets. It is found that the displacement is directly proportional to the generated energy. The role of surface area in producing energy and the distribution of pressure with respect to material strength are added.

Comprehensive Numerical Analysis of a Porous Piezoelectric Ceramic for Axial Load Energy Harvesting

In this paper, an axial-type piezoelectric energy generator with various porosities of piezoelectric ceramics is designed and analysed. A 3D finite element model is developed by using ANSYS software. The porosity of piezoelectric ceramic is varied from 0 to 80% through thickness or along the length of the duralumin beam. The axial type energy harvester consists of bimorph (d31) and cylinder (d33) piezoelectric patches with base excitation. The effects of various porosities, proof mass locations, and different applied acceleration are used to determine the output voltage and power generation. The maximum output voltage and power are obtained equal to 2.25 V and 5.1 µW, respectively.

Low-cost Energy Harvesting using ZnO Nanorods on Paper Substrate

Metal oxide based Nanodevices are used for energy generation, storage, and harvesting. Among the other metal oxides, ZnO shows high performance in piezoelectric energy generation. In this work, electrical energy generated from the stress produced by alphabets has been studied on 1D nanorods taking paper as a flexible and low-cost substrate for a novel wearable device. The study started with applying force on a single rod on the total surface, then on a small block out of the total surface, followed by line force and the letter “A” on the single block. Then, the array of nanorods is taken and tested for a line stroke, for the letters “ECE” and for SVEC ECE. It is found that the pressure applied to the material plays a significant role in voltage generation because the pressure distribution through the surface is inversely proportional to the material strength. Also, the varying height of the rods shows a great effect on the energy produced. When the height of the rods is halved, the energy produced is considerably reduced to half.

Electromechanical Performance of Biocompatible Piezoelectric Thin-Films

The present study analyzed a computational model to evaluate the electromechanical properties of the AlN, BaTiO3, ZnO, PVDF, and KNN-NTK thin-films. With the rise in sustainable energy options for health monitoring devices and smart wearable sensors, developers need a scale to compare the popular biocompatible piezoelectric materials. Cantilever-based energy harvesting technologies are seldom used in sophisticated and efficient biosensors. Such approaches only study transverse sensor loading and are confined to fewer excitation models than real-world applications. The present research analyses transverse vibratory and axial-loading responses to help design such sensors. A thin-film strip (50 × 20 × 0.1 mm) of each sample was examined under volumetric body load stimulation and time-based axial displacement in both the d31 and d33 piezoelectric energy generation modes. By collecting evidence from the literature of the material performance, properties, and performing a validated finite element study to evaluate these performances, the study compared them with lead-based non-biocompatible materials such as PZT and PMN-PT under comparable boundary conditions. Based on the present study, biocompatible materials are swiftly catching up to their predecessors. However, there is still a significant voltage and power output performance disparity that may be difficult to close based on the method of excitation (i.e., transverse, axial, or shear. According to this study, BaTiO3 and PVDF are recommended for cantilever-based energy harvester setups and axially-loaded configurations.

Soft Composites Filled with Iron Oxide and Graphite Nanoplatelets under Static and Cyclic Strain for Different Industrial Applications.

Simultaneously exhibiting both a magnetic response and piezoelectric energy harvesting in magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) is a win–win situation in a soft (hardness below 65) composite-based device. In the present work, composites based on iron oxide (Fe2O3) were prepared and exhibited a magnetic response; other composites based on the electrically conductive reinforcing nanofiller, graphite nanoplatelets (GNP), were also prepared and exhibited energy generation. A piezoelectric energy-harvesting device based on composites exhibited an impressive voltage of ~10 V and demonstrated a high durability of 0.5 million cycles. These nanofillers were added in room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTV-SR) and their magnetic response and piezoelectric energy generation were studied both in single and hybrid form. The hybrid composite consisted of 10 per hundred parts of rubber (phr) of Fe2O3 and 10 phr of GNP. The experimental data show that the compressive modulus of the composites was 1.71 MPa (virgin), 2.73 (GNP), 2.65 MPa (Fe2O3), and 3.54 MPa (hybrid). Similarly, the fracture strain of the composites was 89% (virgin), 109% (GNP), 105% (Fe2O3), 133% (hybrid). Moreover, cyclic multi-hysteresis tests show that the hybrid composites exhibiting higher mechanical properties had the shortcoming of showing higher dissipation losses. In the end, this work demonstrates a rubber composite that provides an energy-harvesting device with an impressive voltage, high durability, and MREs with high magnetic sensitivity.

Design and analysis of a d33 mode piezoelectric energy generator for vehicle braking system

A novel piezoelectric energy generator embedded in vehicle brake pads and excited by magnetic repulsion is developed. The generator is made of a cylindrical magnet and a piezoelectric stack. The generators are mounted on the backing plate of the brake pad through the perforated friction layer. Slotted brake rotor with embedded magnets is equipped to ensure the braking performance of the vehicle. During the braking process with slotted brake rotor, dynamic magnetic repulsion will be generated when the overlapping area of the embedded magnets in the brake pad and brake rotor is changing. The magnetic repulsion is generated when two magnets are close to each other, and the force is proportionally changing with the overlapping area of the two magnets. As a result of repulsion between the magnets, the piezoelectric stack will experience compressive forces, creating an electrical charge for generating energy. To illustrate the voltage generation, a mathematical model with experimental verification is established to calculate the electric charge and output voltage considering the charge dissipation. The energy harvesting process is evaluated by simulating the transient charging of the storage capacitor through the diode bridge, which was experimentally validated in literature. The influences of the dimensional and material properties of the piezoelectric stack, the vehicle speed, the magnetic repulsion, the diameter of the magnetic actuator, the capacitance of the storage capacitor and the distance between rotor center to the actuator on the root mean square (RMS) of the charging power are discussed. A total RMS power of 0.0710 W can be achieved with thirty-six generators embedded in both the inner and the outer brake pads within one brake caliper using APC850 (PZT4) material, and a total RMS power of 1.1226 W can be achieved using PMN-PT-B (PT = 0.3–0.33) material at 120 km h−1 speed of the vehicle. This novel generator will be useful for efficient and practical energy harvesting applications during vehicle braking process.