Ultrahigh-power-density flexible piezoelectric energy harvester based on freestanding ferroelectric oxide thin films

Abstract Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators are emerging as a promising solution for powering next-generation flexible electronics by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. However, traditional ferroelectric ceramics, despite their excellent piezoelectric properties, lack flexibilit...

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Main Authors: Zhongqi Ren, Shiqing Deng, Junda Shao, Yangyang Si, Chao Zhou, Jingjing Luo, Tao Wang, Jinyang Li, Jingxuan Li, Haipeng Liu, Xue Qi, Peike Wang, Ao Yin, Lijun Wu, Suzhu Yu, Yimei Zhu, Jun Chen, Sujit Das, Jun Wei, Zuhuang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58386-1
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Summary:Abstract Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators are emerging as a promising solution for powering next-generation flexible electronics by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. However, traditional ferroelectric ceramics, despite their excellent piezoelectric properties, lack flexibility; while piezoelectric polymers, although highly flexible, have low piezoelectricity. The quest to develop materials that combine high piezoelectricity with exceptional flexibility has thus become a research focus. Herein, we present a breakthrough in this field with the fabrication of freestanding (111)-oriented PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 single crystalline thin films, which exhibit remarkable flexibility and a high converse piezoelectric coefficient (~585 pm/V). This is achieved through water-soluble sacrificial layer to relieve substrate clamping and controlling the crystal orientation to further enhance the piezoelectric response. Our nanogenerators, constructed using these freestanding nanoscale membranes, demonstrate a record-high output power density (~63.5 mW/cm3), excellent flexibility (with a strain tolerance >3.4%), and superior mechanical stability in cycling tests (>60,000 cycles). These advancements pave the way for high-performance, flexible electronic devices utilizing ferroelectric oxide thin films.
ISSN:2041-1723