Flexible piezoelectric energy harvester with an ultrahigh transduction coefficient by the interconnected skeleton design strategy

Abstract

Based on the strong demand for self-powered wearable electronic devices, flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (FPEHs) have recently attracted much attention. A polymer-based piezocomposite is the core of an FPEH and its transduction coefficient (d₃₃ × g₃₃) is directly related to the material's power generation capacity. Unfortunately, the traditional 0–3 type design method generally causes a weak stress transfer and poor dispersion of the filler in the polymer matrix, making it difficult to obtain a high d₃₃ × g₃₃. In this work, a unique interconnected skeleton design strategy has been proposed to overcome these shortcomings. By using the freeze-casting method, an ice-templated 2–2 type composite material has been constructed with the popular piezoelectric relaxor 0.2Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–0.8Pb(Zr_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃ (PZN–PZT) as the filler and PDMS as the polymer matrix. Both the theoretical simulation and the experimental results revealed a remarkable enhancement in the stress transfer ability and piezoelectric response. In particular, the 2–2 type piezocomposite has an ultrahigh transduction coefficient of 58 213 × 10⁻¹⁵ m² N⁻¹, which is significantly better than those of previously reported composite materials, and even textured piezoceramics. This work provides a promising paradigm for the development of high-performance FPEH materials.