Enhanced flexible piezoelectric generating performance via high energy composite for wireless sensor network

Piezoelectric 0.72 Pb(Zr0.47Ti0.53)O3-0.28 Pb[(Zn0.45Ni0.55)1/3Nb2/3]O3 + 0.5 mol% CuO (PNNC) particles were made for use in a composite of flexible energy harvester (FEH) that can convert sustainable mechanical deformation into electrical energy. The PNNC particles with a high transduction coefficient (d33 × g33) were mixed with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix to produce the FEH. The FEH generated maximum output voltage of 55.24 V and current density of 2.76 μA/cm2 (power density: 554 μW/cm3, 3.2 mW) at the resonance frequency of 11 Hz. The energy conversion efficiency of about 20.7% has been achieved. The developed energy harvester is demonstrated in the self-powered wireless sensor node application in which the FEH spontaneously generated stable power under continuous mechanical stress.