Design and Investigation of Polymer/Barium Titanate Composite based Flexible Piezoelectric Generators

Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENGs) can convert mechanical energy in the environment into electrical energy, and can allow the miniaturization, integration and self-powered of microelectronics and systems. Thus, PENGs have become a research hotspot in the field of renewable energy. Some achievements have been made in the research of flexible PENGs, but the existing materials and devices still face some problems, such as low dielectric constant, and low piezoelectric coefficient of piezoelectric polymers. The addition of fillers with high piezoelectric coefficient and high dielectric constant in polymers has been proposed to solve these problems, but it is still limited by low loading capacity,uneven dispersion and weak surface stress of applied fillers. Therefore, this research proposes the use of BaTiO3 ceramics as fillers, and new polymers nanocomposites to fabricate flexible devices with different assembly structure. The effects of the material structure on the electromechanical properties and the relationship between load conditions and the output performance of nanogenerator will be studied. Different applications in the field of wearables, bio-mechanical energy conversion and self-powered sensing will be explored. The effects of the material structure on the electromechanical properties and the relationship between load conditions and the output performance of nanogenerator will be studied. Different applications in the field of wearables, bio-mechanical energy conversion and self-powered sensing will be explored. The effects of the material structure on the electromechanical properties and the relationship between load conditions and the output performance of nanogenerator will be studied. Different applications in the field of wearables, bio-mechanical energy conversion and self-powered sensing will be explored.

Promoters: Prof. Jacquelien Scherpen and Dr Monica Acuautla Meneses
PhD: Kejun Shi