• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.489.2-489.2
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• 2014

The planar type flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH) based on PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (PZT) thin films on the flexible substrates are demonstrated to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. The planar type energy harvesters have been realized, which have an electrode pair on the PZT thin films. The PZT thin films were deposited on double side polished sapphire substrates using conventional RF-magnetron sputtering. The PZT thin films on the sapphire substrates were transferred by PDMS stamp with laser lift-off (LLO) process. KrF excimer laser (wavelength: 248nm) were used for the LLO process. The PDMS stamp was attached to the top of the PZT thin films and the excimer laser induced onto back side of the sapphire substrate to detach the thin films. The detached thin films on the PDMS stamp transferred to adhesive layer coated on the flexible polyimide substrate. Structural properties of the PZT thin films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To measure piezoelectric power generation characteristics, Au/Cr inter digital electrode (IDE) was formed on the PZT thin films using the e-beam evaporation. The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties were measured by a ferroelectric test system (Precision Premier-II) and piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM), respectively. The output signals of the flexible PEHs were evaluated by electrometer (6517A, Keithley). In the result, the transferred PZT thin films showed the ferroelectric and piezoelectric characteristics without electrical degradation and the fabricated flexible PEHs generated an AC-type output power electrical energy during periodically bending and releasing motion. We expect that the flexible PEHs based on laser transferred PZT thin film is able to be applied on self-powered electronic devices in wireless sensor networks technologies. Also, it has a lot of potential for high performance flexible piezoelectric energy harvester.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2019

Piezoelectric energy harvesting technology is attracting attention, as it can be used to convert more accessible mechanical energy resources to periodic electricity. Recent developments in the field of piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) are associated with nanocomposites made from inorganic piezoelectric nanomaterials and organic elastomers. Here, we used the $BaTiO_3$ nanoparticles and piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymeric matrix to fabricate the nanocomposites-based PEH to improve the output performance of PEHs. The piezoelectric nanocomposite is produced by dispersing the inorganic piezo-ceramic nanoparticles inside an organic piezo-polymer and subsequently spin-coat it onto a metal plate. The fabricated organic-inorganic piezoelectric nanocomposite-based PEH harvested the output voltage of ~1.5 V and current signals of ~90 nA under repeated mechanical pushings: these values are compared to those of energy devices made from non-piezoelectric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers and supported by a multiphysics simulation software.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.525-530
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• 2023

Stretchable piezoelectric energy harvester (S-PEHs) based on composite materials are considered one of the potential candidates for realizing wearable self-powered devices for smart clothing and electronic skin. However, low energy conversion performance and expensive stretchable electrodes are major bottlenecks hindering the development and application of S-PEHs. Here, we fabricated the S-PEH by adopting the piezoelectric composites with enhanced stress transfer properties and kirigami-patterned textile electrodes. The optimum contents of piezoelectric BaTiO₃ nanoparticles inside the carbon nanotube/ecoflex composite were selected as 30 wt% considering the trade-off between stretchability and energy harvesting performance of the device. The final S-PEH shows an output voltage and mechanical stability of ~5 V and ~3,000 cycles under repeated 150% of tensile strain, respectively. This work presents a cost-effective and scalable way to fabricate stretchable piezoelectric devices for self-powered wearable electronic systems.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.263-272
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• 2018

Recent developments in the field of energy harvesting technology that convert ambient energy resources into electricity enable the use of self-powered energy systems in wearable and portable electronic devices without the need for additional external power sources. In particular, piezoelectric-effect-based flexible energy harvesters have drawn much attention because they can guarantee power generation from ubiquitous mechanical and vibrational movements. In response to demand for sustainable, permanent, and remote use of real-life personal electronics, many research groups have investigated flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (f-PEHs) that employ nanoscaled piezoelectric materials such as nanowires, nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanotubes. In those attempts, they have proven the feasibility of energy harvesting from tiny periodic mechanical deformations and energy utilization of f-PEH in commercial electronic devices. This review paper provides a brief overview of f-PEH devices based on piezoelectric nanomaterials and summarizes the development history, output performance, and applications.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2024

Energy harvesting technology that converts the wasted energy resources into electrical energy is emerging as a semipermanent power source for self-powered electronics and wireless low-power sensor systems. Among the various energy conversion techniques, flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (f-PEHs), using materials with piezoelectric effects, have attracted significant interest because they can harvest a small mechanical energy into electrical signals without constraints of time and space in various environments. In this study, we used a flexible piezoelectric composite film fabricated by dispersing BaHf_xTi_(1-x)O₃ (x = 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1) piezoelectric powders inside a polymeric matrix to facilitate f-PEHs. The fabricated f-PEH with optimal Hf contents (x = 0.05) generated a maximum output voltage of 0.95 V and current signal of 130 nA with stable electrical/mechanical disabilities under periodically bending deformations. In addition, we demonstrated a cantilever-type f-PEH and investigated its potential as a sensor by characterizing the output performance under mechanical vibrations at various frequencies. This study provides the breakthrough for realizing self-powered energy harvesting and sensing systems by adopting the lead-free piezoelectric composites under vibrational environments.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.247-266
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• 2014

Conventional cantilevered piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) are usually fabricated with continuous electrode configuration (CEC), which suffers from the electrical cancellation at higher vibration modes. Though previous research pointed out that the segmented electrode configuration (SEC) can address this issue, a comprehensive evaluation of the PEH with SEC has yet been reported. With the consideration of delivering power to a common load, the AC outputs from all segmented electrode pairs should be rectified to DC outputs separately. In such case, theoretical formulation for power estimation becomes challenging. This paper proposes a method based on equivalent circuit model (ECM) and circuit simulation to evaluate the performance of the PEH with SEC. First, the parameters of the multi-mode ECM are identified from theoretical analysis. The ECM is then established in SPICE software and validated by the theoretical model and finite element method (FEM) with resistive loads. Subsequently, the optimal performances with SEC and CEC are compared considering the practical DC interface circuit. A comprehensive evaluation of the advantageous performance with SEC is provided for the first time. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using SEC as a simple and effective means to improve the performance of a cantilevered PEH at a higher mode.

• 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 the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2018

CanSat has being attracted considerable attentions for the use as training purposes owing to its advantage that can implement overall system functions of typical commercial satellites within a small package like a beverage can. So-called P.P.T CanSat (Power Plant Trio Can Satellite), proposed in this study, is the name of a CanSat project which have participated in 2015 domestic CanSat competition. Its main objective is to self-power on a LED and a MEMS sensor module by using electrical energy harvested from solar, wind and piezo energy harvesting systems. This study describes the system design results, payload level function tests, flight test results and lessons learned from the flight tests.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2024

When designing an underwater Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (PEH), Vortex Induced Vibration (VIV) is generated throughout the cantilever through a change in curvature, and the generation of VIV increases the vibration displacement of the curved cantilever PEH, which is an important factor in increasing actual power. The material of the curved PEH selected a Polyvinyline Di-Floride (PVDF) piezoelectric film, and the flow velocity is set at 0.1 m/s to 0.50 m/s for 50 mm, 130 mm, and 210 mm with various curvatures. The strain energy change of PEH by VIV was observed. The smaller the radius of curvature, the larger the VIV, and as the flow rate increased, more VIV appeared. Rapid shape transformation due to the small curvature was effective in generating VIV, and strain energy, normalized voltage, average power, etc. To increase the amount of power of the PEH, it is considered that the average power will increase as the number of curved PEHs increases as well as the steep curvature is improved.