Piezoelectric technology, which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, has recently attracted drawn considerable attention in the industry. Among the many kinds of piezoelectric materials, BaTiO₃ nanotube arrays, which have outstanding uniformity and anisotropic orientation compared to nanowire-based arrays, can be fabricated using a simple synthesis process. In this study, we developed a flexible piezoelectric energy harvester (f-PEH) based on a composite film with PVDF-coated BaTiO₃ nanotube arrays through sequential anodization and hydrothermal synthesis processes. The f-PEH fabricated using the piezoelectric composite film exhibited excellent piezoelectric performance and high flexibility compared to the previously reported BaTiO₃ nanotube array-based energy harvester. These results demonstrate the possibility for widely application with high performance by our advanced f-PEH technique based on BaTiO₃ nanotube arrays.

One-dimensional (1D) piezoelectric nanostructures are attractive candidates for energy generation because of their excellent piezoelectric properties attributed to their high aspect ratios and large surface areas. Vertically grown BaTiO₃ nanotube (NT) arrays on conducting substrates are intensively studied because they can be easily synthesized with excellent uniformity and anisotropic orientation. In this study, we demonstrate the synthesis of 1D BaTiO₃ NT arrays on a conductive Ti substrate by electrochemical anodization and sequential hydrothermal reactions. Subsequently, we explore the effect of hydrothermal reaction conditions on the piezoelectric energy conversion efficiency of the BaTiO₃ NT arrays. Vertically aligned TiO2 NT arrays, which act as the initial template, are converted into BaTiO₃ NT arrays using hydrothermal reaction with various concentrations of the Ba source and reaction times. To validate the electrical output performance of the BaTiO₃ NT arrays, we measure the electricity generated from each NT array packaged with a conductive metal foil and epoxy under mechanical pushings. The generated output voltage signals from the BaTiO₃ NT arrays increase with increasing concentration of the Ba source and reaction time. These results provide a new strategy for fabricating advanced 1D piezoelectric nanostructures by demonstrating the correlation between hydrothermal reaction conditions and piezoelectric output performance.

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• Fabrication of Flexible Energy Harvester Based on BaTiO₃ Piezoelectric Nanotube Arrays
  Seo Young Yoon, Cheol Min Kim, Bitna Bae, Yujin Na, Haksu Jang, Kwi-Il Park
  journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2023; 30(6): 521.     CrossRef

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 BaTiO₃ 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.

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• Development and Characterization of Hafnium-Doped BaTiO3 Nanoparticle-Based Flexible Piezoelectric Devices
  HakSu Jang, Hyeon Jun Park, Gwang Hyeon Kim, Gyoung-Ja Lee, Jae-Hoon Ji, Donghun Lee, Young Hwa Jung, Min-Ku Lee, Changyeon Baek, Kwi-Il Park
  JOURNAL OF SENSOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.2024; 33(1): 34.     CrossRef
• Effects of Mixing Ratio and Poling on Output Characteristics of BaTiO3-Poly Vinylidene Fluoride Composite Piezoelectric Generators
  Hee-Tae Kim, Sang-Shik Park
  Korean Journal of Materials Research.2023; 33(12): 517.     CrossRef
• Stretchable Sensor Array Based on Lead-Free Piezoelectric Composites Made of BaTiO3 Nanoparticles and Polymeric Matrix
  Jun Ho Bae, Seong Su Ham, Sung Cheol Park, Kwi-Il Park
  JOURNAL OF SENSOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.2022; 31(5): 312.     CrossRef
• Flexible Energy Harvester Made of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Piezoelectric Nanocomposite
  Yu Jeong Kwon, Dong Yeol Hyeon, Kwi-Il Park
  Korean Journal of Materials Research.2019; 29(6): 371.     CrossRef

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.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Development and Characterization of Hafnium-Doped BaTiO3 Nanoparticle-Based Flexible Piezoelectric Devices
  HakSu Jang, Hyeon Jun Park, Gwang Hyeon Kim, Gyoung-Ja Lee, Jae-Hoon Ji, Donghun Lee, Young Hwa Jung, Min-Ku Lee, Changyeon Baek, Kwi-Il Park
  JOURNAL OF SENSOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.2024; 33(1): 34.     CrossRef
• Enhanced Piezoelectric Performance of Composite Fibers Based on Lead-Free BCTZ Ceramics and P(VDF-TrFE) Piezopolymer for Self-Powered Wearable Sensors
  Sung Cheol Park, Chaeyoung Nam, Changyeon Baek, Min-Ku Lee, Gyoung-Ja Lee, Kwi-Il Park
  ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.2022; 10(43): 14370.     CrossRef
• A Comparison Study of Output Performance of Organic-Inorganic Piezoelectric Nanocomposite Made of Piezoelectric/Non-piezoelectric Polymers and BaTiO₃ Nanoparticles
  Dong Yeol Hyeon, Kwi-Il Park
  Journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2019; 26(2): 119.     CrossRef
• Piezoelectric Flexible Energy Harvester Based on BaTiO3 Thin Film Enabled by Exfoliating the Mica Substrate
  Dong Yeol Hyeon, Kwi-Il Park
  Energy Technology.2019;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting from Two-Dimensional Boron Nitride Nanoflakes
  Gyoung-Ja Lee, Min-Ku Lee, Jin-Ju Park, Dong Yeol Hyeon, Chang Kyu Jeong, Kwi-Il Park
  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.2019; 11(41): 37920.     CrossRef