Salt-In-Wood Piezoelectric Power Generators with Circular Materials Design for High-Performance Sustainable Energy Harvesting
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Date
2025-06-19
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
The nanowatt-level power density of current biobased piezoelectric energy harvesters restricts their applicative potential for the efficient conversion of biomechanical energy. A high-performing, fully renewable piezoelectric device incorporating green piezo-active Rochelle salt in a laser-drilled wood template is demonstrated to form ordered crystal pillar arrays by melt crystallization. Investigating the effect of different crystal pillar configurations on the piezoelectric response, a shearing design (45 degrees-oriented pillars) shows potential of up to 30 V and a current of 4 mu A - corresponding to a 10-fold power increase compared to single-crystalline Rochelle salt. A concept of direct laser graphitization on the crystal surfaces are demonstrated using a fully renewable ink to create electrodes of low resistance (36 Omega sq-1). The entire device can be disassembled, fully recycled, and reused. This nanogenerator outperforms state-of-the-art biobased ones and competes with conventional lead-based devices in power generation while showing a significantly lower environmental footprint, as indicated by life-cycle assessment.
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published
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Journal / series
Volume
35 (25)
Pages / Article No.
2418454
Publisher
Wiley-VCH
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Subject
biobased; composite; energy harvesting; nanogenerator; piezoelectricity; sustainable electronics; wood
Organisational unit
03918 - Fiebig, Manfred / Fiebig, Manfred
03917 - Burgert, Ingo / Burgert, Ingo
Notes
Funding
188414 - Multifunctional oxide electronics using natural ferroelectric superlattices (SNF)
219319 - Laser-Mediated Wood Surface Engineering (SNF)
219319 - Laser-Mediated Wood Surface Engineering (SNF)