Recent Advances in Organic and Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Piezoelectric Mechanical Energy Harvesting

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive overview of piezo-and ferro-electric materials based on organic molecules and organic-inorganic hybrids for mechanical energy harvesting. Molecular (organic and organic-inorganic hybrid) piezo-and ferroelectric materials exhibit significant advantages over traditional materials due to their simple solution-phase synthesis, light-weight nature, thermal stability, mechanical flexibility, high Curie temperature, and attractive piezo-and ferroelectric properties. However, the design and understanding of piezo-and ferroelectricity in organic and organic-inorganic hybrid materials for piezoelectric energy harvesting applications is less well developed. This review describes the fundamental characterization of piezo-and ferroelectricity for a range of recently reported organic and organic-inorganic hybrid materials. The limits of traditional piezoelectric harvesting materials are outlined, followed by an overview of the piezo-and ferroelectric properties of organic and organic-inorganic hybrid materials, and their composites, for mechanical energy harvesting. An extensive description of peptide-based and other biomolecular piezo-and ferroelectric materials as a biofriendly alternative to current materials is also provided. Finally, current limitations and future perspectives in this emerging area of research are highlighted. This perspective aims to guide chemists, materials scientists, and engineers in the design of practically useful organic and organic-inorganic hybrid piezo-and ferroelectric materials and composites for mechanical energy harvesting.

A small-molecule organic ferroelectric with piezoelectric voltage coefficient larger than that of lead zirconate titanate and polyvinylidene difluoride

“…34 We then estimated the d 33 of the (3,3-DFCBA)Cl thin lm as 30.5 pC N À1 according to the slope values, comparable to those of classical organic piezoelectrics (Table S5 †). [47][48][49][50][51][52][53] Moreover, we observed that the (3,3-DFCBA)Cl thin lm also has a strong in-plane piezoresponse when we aligned the PFM cantilever along the y-axis direction, as shown in Fig. S11.…”

Electronic pyroelectricity: the interplay of valence tautomerism and spin transition

“…If no dielectric anomaly is observed in this regime, the compound can be considered piezoelectric or pyroelectric rather than ferroelectric. 20,21 Among the array of valence tautomeric compounds reported so far, the pyroelectric properties reported by Sato and coworkers can be observed in the absence of an electric field because the molecular orientation in the molecular crystals is fixed. 18,19 Moreover, the advanced design strategy can improve the predictability and precision during the incorporation of polar molecular crystals into energy-efficient materials.…”

“…If no dielectric anomaly is observed in this regime, the compound can be considered piezoelectric or pyroelectric rather than ferroelectric. 20,21…”

Perovskite Oxide Ferroelectric Thin Films

“…Piezoelectric films are used in sensors, actuators, and energy harvesting. [219,220] The following is an introduction to the application of piezoelectric film in the field of energy harvesting. Figure 12d shows a small size flexible cantilever beam structure prepared by a simple punching process for a low-frequency vibration energy harvester.…”