Voltage generation of piezoelectric cantilevers by laser heating.

ABSTRACT: Converting ambient thermal energy into electricity is of great interest in harvesting energy from the environment. Piezoelectric cantilevers have previously been shown to be an effective biosensor and a tool for elasticity mapping. Here we show that a single piezoelectric (lead-zirconate titanate (PZT)) layer cantilever can be used to convert heat to electricity through pyroelectric effect. Furthermore, piezoelectric-metal (PZT-Ti) bi-layer cantilever showed an enhanced induced voltage over the single PZT layer alone due to the additional piezoelectric effect. This type of device can be a way for converting heat energy into electricity.

SUBMITTER: Hsieh CY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3517495 | biostudies-other | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other