• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.371-377
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• 2019

A flexible piezoelectric energy harvester(f-PEH) that converts tiny mechanical and vibrational energy resources into electric signals without any restraints is drawing attention as a self-powered source to operate flexible electronic systems. In particular, the nanocomposites-based f-PEHs fabricated by a simple and low-cost spin-coating method show a mechanically stable and high output performance compared to only piezoelectric polymers or perovskite thin films. Here, the non-piezoelectric polymer matrix of the nanocomposite-based f-PEH is replaced by a P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric polymer to improve the output performance generated from the f-PEH. The piezoelectric hybrid nanocomposite is produced by distributing the perovskite PZT nanoparticles inside the piezoelectric elastomer; subsequently, the piezoelectric hybrid material is spin-coated onto a thin metal substrate to achieve a nanocomposite-based f-PEH. A fabricated energy device after a two-step poling process shows a maximum output voltage of 9.4 V and a current of 160 nA under repeated mechanical bending. Finite element analysis(FEA) simulation results support the experimental results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.954-959
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• 2012

A hybrid switch that uses a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch as a gate driver of a MOSFET is applied to an energy harvesting system. The power management circuit adopting the hybrid switch provides ultralow leakage, self-referencing, and high current handling capability. Measurements show that solar energy harvester circuit utilizing the MEMS-MOSFET hybrid switch accumulates energy and charges a battery or drive a resistive load without any constant power supply and reference voltage. The leakage current during energy accumulation is less than 10 pA. The power management circuit adopting the proposed hybrid switch is believed to be an ideal solution to self-powered wireless sensor nodes in smart grid systems.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 2022

Piezoelectric energy harvesting technologies, which can be used to convert the electricity from the mechanical energy, have been developed in order to assist or power the wearable electronics. To realize non-toxic and biocompatible electronics, the lead-free (Ba_0.85Ca_0.15)(Ti_0.90Zr_0.10)O₃ (BCTZ) nanoparticles (NPs) are being studied with a great attention as flexible energy harvesting device. Herein, piezoelectric hybrid nanocomposites were fabricated using BCTZ NPs-embedded poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] matrix to improve the performance of flexible energy harvester. Output performance of the fabricated energy device was investigated by the well-optimized measurement system during the periodically bending and releasing motions. The generated open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current of the piezoelectric hybrid nanocomposite-based energy harvester reached up to ~15 V and ~1.1 ㎂, respectively; moreover, the instantaneous power of 3.5 ㎼ is determined from load voltage and current at the external load of 20 MΩ. This research is expected to cultivate a new approach to high-performance wearable self-powering electronics.

• Ceramist
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.54-88
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• 2020

Global effort has resulted in tremendous progress with energy harvesters that extract mechanical energy from ambient sources, convert it to electrical energy, and use it for systems such as wrist watches, mobile electronic devices, wireless sensor nodes, health monitoring, and biosensors. However, harvesting a single energy source only still pauses a great challenge in driving sustainable and maintenance-free monitoring and sensing devices. Over the last few years, research on high-performance mechanical energy harvesters at the micro and nanoscale has been directed toward the development of hybrid devices that either aim to harvest mechanical energy in addition to other types of energies simultaneously or to exploit multiple mechanisms to more effectively harvest mechanical energy. Herein, we appraise the rational designs for multiple energy harvesting, specifically state-of-the-art hybrid mechanical energy harvesters that employ multiple piezoelectric and triboelectric mechanisms to efficiently harvest mechanical energy. We identify the critical material parameters and device design criteria that lead to high-performance hybrid mechanical energy harvesters. Finally, we address the future perspectives and remaining challenges in the field.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2016

Energy harvesting technique is to utilize energy that is always present but wasted. In this study, we have developed the energy harvester of the hybrid method utilizing both vibration and pressure of the vehicle traveling a road or parking lot. In the previous study, we have developed a prototype energy harvester, improved hybrid energy harvester, and developed a final product that offers improved performance in the hybrid module. The results were published in the previous paper. In this study, we installed the finally developed hybrid module in the actual parking lot. And we measured the power generation performance due to pressure and vibration, and the running speed of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling. And we compared the results with those obtained in laboratory conditions. In a previous study performed in laboratory conditions the maximum power of the energy block was 1.066W when one single time of vibration, and 1.830W when succession with 5 times. On the other hand, in this study, we obtained the average power output of 0.310W when the vehicle is running at an average 5 km/h, 0.670W when at an average 10 km/h, and 1.250W when at an average 20 km/h, and 2.160W when at an average 5 km/h. That is, the higher the running speed of the vehicle has increased power generation performance. However, when compared to laboratory conditions, the power generation performance of the energy block in driving speed by 20km/h was lower than those in laboratory conditions. In addition, when compared to one time of vibration of laboratory conditions, power generation performance was higher when the running speed 20km/h or more and when five consecutive times in laboratory conditions, it was higher when the running speed 30km/h or more. It could be caused by a difference of load conditions between the laboratory and the actual vehicle. Thus, applying the energy block on the road would be more effective than that on the parking lot.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to develop hybrid energy blocks with piezoelectric and electromagnetic induction method. The developed energy block is able to be applied to the housing and facilities in the city and is suitable to adjust the characteristics of facilities. To develop the hybrid energy block, we analyzed the characteristics and requirements of various energy block types and drew improvement and application method to develop energy blocks. We compared and analyzed the characteristics and performance of the prototype energy blocks and the developed hybrid energy blocks. According to result of the comparison and analysis, the developed energy block shows higher performance of 12.7 times for adding one vibration and 28.9 times for five consecutive vibrations than that of a existing prototype energy block. This is consistent with research purposes for W-level electrical energy production. Thus, the new energy block will likely be possible to apply to the housing and urban facility.