[Article] Hybrid shape memory alloy and piezoelectric polymer coupled for energy harvesting

Abstract

Small-scale energy harvesting to power self-powered electronic devices is tremendously increasing. In this context, the ability to combine thermal and mechanical energy harvesting using smart materials deserves more attention for further studies. We have presented the feasibility of using P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric polymer coupled with NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) to harvest both mechanical and thermal energy in simple scalable devices. A novel hybrid composite consisting of SMA, and P(VDF-TrFE) has been developed without any complex composites or patterned structures, which couples the piezoelectric effect of the poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) and the shape memory effects of NiTi SMA. We have also fabricated a multi-layer SMA/PEN/P(VDF-TrFE) device using epoxy as an interface and bonding layer. During bending, the P(VDF-TrFE) device with an active area of 3.68 cm2 generated an output voltage of 8 V and an output power of 6.25 mW. When coupled with NiTi SMA to create a thermoelectric hybrid composite , the device can convert the phase change associated with SMA, and thus thermal energy is converted to mechanical energy and finally into electrical energy. This is a promising approach for the further development of coupled hybrid energy harvester devices for the powering of small-scale electronic devices such as sensors, MEMS, or biomedical devices.

This research work was carried out during a collaboration between IJL and LEM3 laboratories and funded by the “Lorraine Université d’Excellence (LUE)” program.

Authors

Sunija Sukumaran, Samir Chatbouri, Laurent Badie, Frederic Thiebaud, Tarak Ben Zineb and Didier Rouxel

References

Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures 1–14, 2022

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.1177/1045389X221111550