Researchers from Canada's University of Waterloo and University of Toronto have developed a tiny, wearable piezoelectric generator based on perovskites that can generate electricity from vibrations or body movements. The technology could potentially charge laptops by typing or power a smartphone’s battery from the movements of a run, for instance.
The device makes use of the piezoelectric effect, which generates electrical energy by applying pressure to materials like crystal and certain ceramics. The tea, explained that older materials are brittle, expensive and have a limited ability to generate electricity, as opposed to the materials created for the new generator - which are flexible, more energy-efficient and cost less.
The innovative approach of functionalizing organometal halide perovskite with polystyrene has been successfully employed in this work to enhance the output current density of the piezoelectric nanogenerator. The optimization of polystyrene concentration in FAPbBr2I precursors has been, according to the team, instrumental in reducing defects, increasing grain size, and achieving a more homogeneous distribution of halide ions, resulting in a smaller lattice strain.
Consequently, the polystyrene-functionalized organometal halide perovskite (PS-OHP) exhibited greater structural integrity, reducing ion migration under an electric field and overcoming the “dielectric constant vs. dielectric strength” limit. The optimized concentration of 1% PS significantly suppressed leakage current by one order of magnitude, demonstrating effective control over ion migration.
Additionally, the controlled nucleation of perovskites through PS incorporation lead to a twofold increase in grain sizes compared to pristine perovskites. This innovative ternary composite design and cascading them help to elevate the output current density of the extensively studied perovskite PENG by one order of magnitude thus setting a record. The high-performance piezoelectric nanogenerator with ultrahigh current density achieved in this study represents a step towards establishing a sustainable power source for portable and flexible electronics.
The researchers have filed a patent and are working with a Canadian company to commercialize their generator for use in aviation, specifically to power the systems on planes that monitor the status of safety equipment.
