Rectifying the output of vibrational piezoelectric energy harvester using quantum dots

Abstract

Piezoelectric energy harvester scavenges mechanical vibrations and generates electricity. Researchers have strived to optimize the electromechanical structures and to design necessary external power management circuits, aiming to deliver high power and rectified outputs ready for serving as batteries. Complex deformation of the mechanical structure results in charges with opposite polarities appearing on same surface, leading to current loss in the attached metal electrode. External power management circuits such as rectifiers comprise diodes that consume power and have undesirable forward bias. To address the above issues, we devise a novel integrated piezoelectric energy harvesting device that is structured by stacking a layer of quantum dots (QDs) and a layer of piezoelectric material. We find that the QD can rectify electrical charges generated from the piezoelectric material because of its adaptable conductance to the electrochemical potentials of both sides of the QDs layer, so that electrical current causing energy loss on the same surface of the piezoelectric material can be minimized. The QDs layer has the potential to replace external rectification circuits providing a much more compact and less power-consumption solution.

Microscopic Origin of Piezoelectricity in Lead-Free Halide Perovskite: Application in Nanogenerator Design

“…Toward this end, high-performance, ecofriendly lead-free energy harvesters continue to attract immense research activity aimed at further improving their present power conversion efficiencies. In the domain of such devices, piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) are quite interesting and have the potential for applications because of their promising capability to generate electric power locally through impact stress, vibrations, or flexing , using relatively simple device structures, low cost, and ease of large-scale production.…”

Introductory Chapter: The Fame of Quantum Dots in Space-age Improvements for Multifunctional Application

“…• Piezoelectric energy harvester [35] Cryotechnics • Cryogenic-temperature thermodynamically Suppressed and strongly confined quantum dots [36] • SQUIDS (superconducting quantum interference devices) [37] Mechanics • Quantum-dot array with self-aligned electrodes [38] • Reversible adhesion via quantum dots [39] • Reduction of friction [40] Magnetics • Quantum-dot cellular automata [41] • Multimodal imaging [42] Sensorics • Data acquisition in antagonistic surroundings and media [43] • Telemetry monitoring via PDA [44] • Optical and electrochemical (bio)analytical sensors [45] Chemistry • Drift-diffusion [46] • Carbon dots are in contrast to corrosion inhibitors [47] • Resistive-based gas sensors [48] Biomedicine • Biocompatible implant coating [49] • Neurological sensors [50] New materials • Metastable phases/metallic glasses: Mn 2+ -doped CdS quantum dots in a silicate glass [51] Metal-doped PbSe quantum dots in silicate glasses [52] • Low-noise GaAs quantum photonics [53] • Ultra-stable carbon quantum dots [54] (Alternative) Energies…”

Design, Construction and Evaluation of an Energy Harvesting Prototype built with Piezoelectric Materials

“…Therefore, the optimal energy collectors for piezoelectric devices are vibratory. Usually, the energy harvester devices appear as a cantilever beam, because they can generate a continuous load on the piezoelectric surface [6]. Different prototypes of cantilever beams with piezoelectrics have been made and sold to provide power systems in multiple applications.…”