Simulation analysis of transient piezoelectric properties of PvDF structure for energy conversion applications

Rapid development of wireless sensor networks and portable electronic devices calls for solutions to self-powered micro-systems. In this work, two models based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PvDF) structure which convert mechanical energy into electric energy is studied via COMSOL Multi-physics simulation. A series of time-dependent transient analyses are conducted and it is observed that strains and output voltages generally follow the changes of applied stresses when the frequency of the applied stress is at 1 Hz. With a fixed frequency, output voltage and short circuit current increase with applied strain and with a fixed strain, the current increase with the frequency while the output voltage remains relatively stable. The theoretical energy conversion coefficient is 14.39% for the cantilever model and 13.23% for the membrane model, which is higher than results of practical experiments.

[1]  Michael Grätzel,et al.  Solar energy conversion by dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells. , 2005, Inorganic chemistry.

[2]  Aleksandra M. Vinogradov,et al.  Electro-mechanical properties of the piezoelectric polymer PVDF , 1999 .

[3]  Jaehwan Kim,et al.  A review of piezoelectric energy harvesting based on vibration , 2011 .

[4]  Liwei Lin,et al.  Direct-write piezoelectric polymeric nanogenerator with high energy conversion efficiency. , 2010, Nano letters.

[5]  Z. Wang.  Self‐Powered Nanosensors and Nanosystems , 2012, Advanced materials.

[6]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Power generation with laterally packaged piezoelectric fine wires. , 2009, Nature nanotechnology.

[7]  Tong Lin,et al.  Electrical power generator from randomly oriented electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibre membranes , 2011 .

[8]  A. J. Lovinger.  Ferroelectric Polymers , 1983, Science.

[9]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Based on Zinc Oxide Nanowire Arrays , 2006, Science.

[10]  Ann Marie Sastry,et al.  Powering MEMS portable devices—a review of non-regenerative and regenerative power supply systems with special emphasis on piezoelectric energy harvesting systems , 2008 .

[11]  Joseph A. Paradiso,et al.  Parasitic power harvesting in shoes , 1998, Digest of Papers. Second International Symposium on Wearable Computers (Cat. No.98EX215).

[12]  S. Bauer,et al.  Piezo-, pyro- and ferroelectrets: soft transducer materials for electromechanical energy conversion , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation.

[13]  Zhong Lin Wang.  Nanogenerators for self-powering nanosystems and piezotronics for smart MEMS/NEMS , 2011, 2011 IEEE 24th International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems.

[14]  Zhong Lin Wang.  Top emerging technologies for self-powered nanosystems: nanogenerators and nanopiezotronics , 2010, 2010 3rd International Nanoelectronics Conference (INEC).

[15]  Zhong Lin Wang.  Nanogenerators for Self-powered Devices and Systems , 2011 .

[16]  Ali Akbar Yousefi,et al.  Effect of tensile strain rate and elongation on crystalline structure and piezoelectric properties of PVDF thin films , 2007 .

[17]  Cyril Condemine,et al.  Efficient Power Management Circuit: From Thermal Energy Harvesting to Above-IC Microbattery Energy Storage , 2008, IEEE J. Solid State Circuits.

[18]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Self-powered nanowire devices. , 2010, Nature nanotechnology.

[19]  V. Schmidt.  Piezoelectric energy conversion in windmills , 1992, IEEE 1992 Ultrasonics Symposium Proceedings.