Recent Progress on Piezoelectric, Pyroelectric, and Magnetoelectric Polymer‐Based Energy‐Harvesting Devices

Abstract

Energy harvesting from the environment based on electroactive polymers has been increasing in recent years. Ferroelectric polymers are used as mechanical‐to‐electrical energy transducers in a wide range of applications, scavenging the surrounding energy to power low‐power devices. These energy‐harvesting systems operate by taking advantage of the piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and magnetoelectric properties of the polymers, harvesting wasted environmental energy and converting it mainly into electrical energy. There have been developed different nano‐ and micro‐scale power harvesters with an increasing interest for powering mobile electronics and low‐power devices, including applications in remote access areas. Novel electronic devices are developed based on low‐power solutions, and therefore, polymer‐based materials represent a suitable solution to power these devices. Among the different polymers, the most widely used in the device application is the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) family, due to its higher output performance.

Waterproof, Breathable, and Antibacterial Self‐Powered e‐Textiles Based on Omniphobic Triboelectric Nanogenerators

“…Thermoelectric effects have been exploited to continuously supply power to e‐textiles by converting thermal gradients in the textile into electric energy . Similarly, flexible pyroelectric generators have exploited the pyroelectric effect to harvest energy from temperature fluctuations due to thermal diffusion . At the typical temperature gradients generated between the human body and the environment, thermoelectric generators have demonstrated a better performance powering e‐textiles than pyroelectric materials .…”

“…The high output voltage performance of flexible piezoelectric generators has enabled their use not only to power wearable and implantable devices, but also as self‐powered biosensors to monitor respiration and arterial pulse . Unfortunately, textile‐based piezoelectric generators often require complex fabrication processes that are not favorable for continuous production . Additionally, the prolonged exposure of piezoelectric materials and metal wire electrodes to moisture can deteriorate the performance of the piezoelectric generators, limiting their practical utility in e‐textile applications.…”

“…Unfortunately, textile‐based piezoelectric generators often require complex fabrication processes that are not favorable for continuous production . Additionally, the prolonged exposure of piezoelectric materials and metal wire electrodes to moisture can deteriorate the performance of the piezoelectric generators, limiting their practical utility in e‐textile applications.…”

Energy Applications of Magnetocaloric Materials

“…This, together with the rapid development of knowledge in the fields of materials science and physics, has diverted the attention of researchers to other solid‐state technologies. In addition to the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy through piezoelectric, magnetoelectric, magnetostrictive, triboelectric, and electrostrictive effects, various technologies have been developed for the solid‐state harvesting of thermal energy, including from low‐grade thermal sources …”

“…Researchers have also investigated new frontiers in spin‐caloritronics, spin‐Seebeck, and anomalous Nernst effects . However, with the rapid development of caloric (ferroic) materials and technologies for refrigeration and air conditioning, caloric (ferroic) power generation is being revisited and prototype devices are being developed. Caloric power generation draws on specialized fields such as magnetocalorics (an aspect of thermomagnetics or pyromagnetics), electrocalorics (an aspect of pyroelectrics), and mechanocalorics (an aspect of thermoelastics) .…”