Piezoelectric and Semiconducting Ribbon for Flexible Energy Harvesting.

摘要

The objective of this proposal is the hierarchical assembly of piezoelectric and semiconducting ribbons onto a common polymeric platform for thin, flexible energy harvesting. In particular, we aim to reach a target output of 5 mW at 100Hz. The development of a method for integrating highly efficient energy conversion materials onto stretchable, biocompatible rubbers could yield breakthroughs in implantable or wearable energy harvesting systems. Being electromechanically coupled, piezoelectric crystals represent a particularly interesting subset of smart materials which function as sensors/actuators, bioMEMS devices, and energy converters. Yet, the crystallization of these materials generally requires high temperatures for maximally efficient performance, rendering them incompatible with temperature- sensitive plastics and rubbers. Here, we propose overcoming these limitations by presenting a scalable and parallel process for transferring crystalline piezoelectric ribbons of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) from host substrates onto flexible plastics over macroscopic areas. The ribbons are fabricated from single crystal, stoichiometric films of PZT, allowing for exceptional control over the composition and, consequently, the performance characteristics of these materials.