• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.372-376
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• 2009

This paper describes the characteristics of piezoelectric micro power generators by the ANSYS FEA(finite element analysis). The micro power generator was designed to convert ambient vibration energy to electrical power as a ZnO piezoelectric material. To find optimal model in low vibration ambient, the shape of power generator was changed with different membrane width, thickness, length, and proof mass size. Using the ANSYS modal analysis, bending mode and stress distribution of optimal model were analyzed. Moreover, the displacement with the frequency range was analyzed by harmonic analysis. From the simulation results, the resonance frequency of optimal model is about 373 Hz and investigate the possibility of ZnO micro power generator for ambient vibration applications.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.487-494
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• 2021

Piezoelectric generators use direct piezoelectric effects that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Many studies were attempted to fabricate piezoelectric generators using piezoelectrics such as ZnO, PZT, PVDF. However, these various inorganic/organic piezoelectric materials are not suitable for bio-implantable devices due to problems such as brittleness, toxicity, bio-incompatibility, bio-degradation. Thus, in this paper, piezoelectric generators were prepared using a silk fibroin film which is bio-compatible by dip-coating method. The silk fibroin films are a mixed state of silk I and silk II having stable β-sheet type structures and shows the d₃₃ value of 8~10 pC/N. There was a difference in output voltages according to the thickness. The silk fibroin generators, coated 10 times and 20 times, revealed the power density of 16.07 μW/cm² and 35.31 μW/cm² using pushing tester, respectively. The silk fibroin generators are sensitive to various pressure levels, which may arise from body motions such as finger tapping, foot pressing, wrist shaking, etc. The silk fibroin piezoelectric generators with bio-compatibility shows the applicability as a low-power implantable piezoelectric generator, healthcare monitoring service, and biotherapy devices.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2015

In this paper, the flexible piezoelectric nanocomposite generator(NCG) device based on $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures was fabricated via simple and low-cost spin coating method. The $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures synthesized by self-assembly reaction showed dendrite morphologies. To produce the piezoelectric nanocomposite(p-NC layer) which acts as an electric energy source in NCG device, the piezoelectric nanopowders($BaTiO_3$) were dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS). Sequently, the p-NC layer was inserted in two dielectric layer of PDMS; these layers enabled the NCG device flexibility as well as durability prohibiting detachment(exfoliation) for significantly mechanical bending motions. The fabricated NCG device shows average maximum open circuit voltage of 6.2 V and average maximum current signals of 300 nA at 20 wt% composition of $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures in p-NC layer. Finally, the flexible energy harvester generates stable output signals at any rate of frequency which were used to operate LCD device without any external energy supply.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.215-222
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• 2024

Because collagen is inherently piezoelectric, research is being actively conducted to utilize it to harvest energy. In this study, a collagen solution was prepared using edible low-molecular-weight peptide collagen powder, and collagen films were fabricated using a dip coating method. The collagen films prepared by dip coating showed a smooth surface without defects such as pinholes or cracks. Dehydrothermal treatment of the collagen films was performed to induce a stable molecular structure through cross-linking. The collagen film subjected to dehydrothermal treatment at 110 ℃ for 24 h showed a thickness reduction rate of 19 %. Analysis of the collagen films showed that the crystallinity of the collagen film improved by about 7.9 % after dehydrothermal treatment. A collagen film-based piezoelectric nanogenerator showed output characteristics of approximately 13.7 V and 1.4 ㎂ in a pressure test of 120 N. The generator showed a maximum power density of about 2.91 mW/m² and an output voltage of about 8~19 V during various human body movements such as finger tapping. The collagen film-based piezoelectric generator showed improved output performance with improved crystallinity and piezoelectricity after dehydrothermal treatment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.04b
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• pp.53-54
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• 2009

Nowadays, source of MEMS, USN, Hybrid parts pay attention to energy harvesting. On this paper, energy harvesting was studied using piezoelectric effect. And, piezoelectric generator was designed and fabricated. Generators were designed by FEM simulation program and generators were made by attaching cymbal type metal plates on upper and bottom sides of a disc type piezoelectric ceramic. Using fabricated generators, output voltages dependant on thickness of ceramic, displacement of vibration, frequency of vibration were measured.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.865-869
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• 2011

A cantilever-type piezoelectric generator has advantages of simple structure, ease of fabrication and large displacement by transverse vibration of a beam. It is easy to control the natural frequency, and also possible to increase the output power by changing the length, width, and thickness of the generator. In particular, the length increases, the natural frequency sharply decreases, and vice versa. Hence, the natural frequency can widely be controlled by using change in the length of elastic body. In this paper, the generator was designed and fabricated to change natural frequency using the slides of the case. In addition, the generating characteristics were confirmed through finite element analyses and vibration experiment. As a result, the maximum output characteristics could be generated due to resonance phenomenon although any frequency of external force was applied.

• Journal of The Institute of Information and Telecommunication Facilities Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2009

This paper presents a self-sustaining system, and an effective method in enhancing overall energy efficiency. The proposed system consists of the two major nodes: a slave node, which contains the environment information (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.); and a master node, which communicates with the slave nodes, and transmit the slave node's information to users. All slave nodes are under control of the master node. Each slave node uses two power sources: the piezoelectric power generator (PPG); and the continuous wave from the master node. The paper highlights the basic operational principle, each node's specifications, and experimental data for performance verification. The two nodes successfully communicate each other in a range of 3.3m (maximal range), where the user's computer is wired the master node.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.769-775
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• 2016

Characteristics of a wireless sensor powered by the IDE (interdigitated electrode) embedded piezoelectric cantilever generator were analyzed in order to evaluate its potential for use in wireless sensor applications. The IDE embedded piezoelectric cantilever was designed and fabricated to have a self-resonance frequency of 126 Hz and acceleration of 1.57 G, respectively, for the mechanical resonance with a practical conveyor system in a thermal-power plant. It produced maximum output power of 2.81 mW under the resistive load of $160{\Omega}$ at 126 Hz. The wireless sensor module is electrically connected to a rectifier capacitor with capacity of 0.68 farad and 3.8 V for power supply by the piezoelectric cantilever generator. The unloaded capacitor could be charged as a rate of approximately $365{\mu}V/s$ while the capacitor exhibited that of 0.997 mV/min. during communication under low duty cycle of 0.2%. Therefore, it is considered that the fabricated IDE embedded piezoelectric cantilever generator can be used for wireless sensor applications.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.938-943
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• 2007

In this paper, we show that, in case of piezoelectric micropower generator, just replacing Schottky diodes in the bridge rectifier with ultra-low reverse leakage current diodes improves the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency by more than 100%. Experimental and PSPICE simulation results show that, due to the ultra-low leakage current, the charging speed of the circuit employing PAD1 is higher than that of the circuit employing Schottky diodes and the saturation voltage of the circuit employing PAD1 is also higher. This study suggests that , when the internal impedance of source is very large (a few tens of $M{\Omega}$) such that maximum charging current is a few microamperes or less, in order to realize literally the energy scavenging system, ultra-low reverse leakage current diodes should be used for efficient energy conversion. Since low-level vibration is ubiquitous in the environment ranging from human movement to large infrastructures and the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency is much more critical for use of these vibrations, we believe that the improvement in the efficiency using ultra-low leakage diodes, as found in this work, will widen greatly the application of piezoelectric micropower generator.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.209-213
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• 2010

This paper describes the fabrication and characteristics of AlN piezoelectric MPG(micro power generator). The micro energy harvester was fabricated to convert ambient vibration energy to electrical power as a AlN piezoelectric cantilever with Si proof-mass. To be compatible with CMOS process, AlN thin film was grown at low temperature by RF magnetron sputtering and micro power generators were fabricated by MEMS technologies. X-ray diffraction pattern proved that the grown AlN film had highly(002) orientation with low value of FWHM(full width at the half maximum, $\theta=0.276^{\circ}$) in the rocking curve around(002) reflections. The implemented harvester showed the $198.5\;{\mu}m$ highest membrane displacement and generated 6.4 nW of electrical power to $80\;k{\Omega}$ resistive load with $22.6\;mV_{rms}$ voltage from 1.0 G acceleration at its resonant frequency of 389 Hz. From these results, the AlN piezoelectric MPG will be possible to suitable with the batch process and confirm the possibility for power supply in portable, mobile and wearable microsystems.