Material Science
Advances in Piezoelectric Composites Allow Harnessing and Interpretation of Kinetic Energy
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In a past article, we discussed piezoelectric materials, which remain cloaked in obscurity among the general public despite being commonly used across various industries. Behind the scenes, this is not the case, as scientists remain hard at work developing new and ever more efficient piezoelectric composites that are on the cusp of opening up new applications where kinetic energy must be harnessed and monitored.
This was recently highlighted in a paper published in the Wiley Online Library, which saw the development and integration of a flexible piezoelectric composite into sporting equipment with the purpose of offering battery-free sensors monitoring impacts, steps, and more. The composite was successfully developed through the use of unidirectional carbon fibers, which were used as a means of reinforcement meant to give the piezoelectric material the necessary durability for real-world applications.
A Refresher
As our understanding of material science continues to increase, so does the potential behind materials that boast piezoelectric properties. With that in mind, a refresher on how piezoelectric materials may be due. The following is an excerpt from a past article of ours looking at these useful substances.
Piezoelectric materials allow for us to harness kinetic energy, by transforming force into an electric charge. First defined by the Curie brothers in 1880, Piezoelectricity has become a fundamental principle exploited in modern technology.
Piezoelectricity refers to a substances ability to produce an electrical charge when mechanical stress is applied. This electrical charge is produced by forced asymmetry. In piezoelectric materials, positive and negative charges are separated from each other, while remaining aligned in a symmetrical pattern. When mechanical stress is applied to the substance, this symmetry is lost, resulting in the production of an electric charge.
PVDF beta phase.
Another unique property of the materials is the random nature and presence of Weiss domains (magnetically oriented without external magnetic influence).
It was later discovered that these same materials demonstrated a direct inverse property to the electric effect. It was found that if an electric charge was applied to the material, repeatable mechanical deformation would occur within the material. This discovery gave great utility to such materials, as it essentially doubled their prospective use-cases.
Hitting CES 2024
Wearable electronics, healthcare diagnostic tools, energy solutions, and more are all areas of interest at CES 2024. Notably, these are all fields that can potentially make use of piezoelectric materials. With that in mind, several innovative products utilizing piezoelectric materials were showcased.
DeRUCCI Group introduced a new line of sleep health technologies, including smart mattresses and various other smart Internet of Things (IoT) solutions designed for healthier sleep. These mattresses incorporate advanced features such as AI sleep/health sensors and air support units with piezoelectric ceramic sensors, which, alongside advanced AI sleep monitoring, allow for automated height and firmness adjustments.
Goertek Inc. also made a splash with a diverse range of products at the event. Among its offerings were advancements in automotive electronics, including an in-vehicle center console incorporating piezoelectric tactile feedback technology. This innovation represents a stride in enhancing the interactive experience in vehicles.
Boreas Technologies showcased an innovative product in the realm of robotics, specifically its “Boréas Solid-State Piezo Haptic Buttons.” This product is described as representing a significant advancement in haptic technology, utilizing piezoelectric materials to create a more tactile and responsive user experience.
These products highlight the versatile nature of piezoelectric materials across different sectors, demonstrating their growing importance in the development of smart, responsive technologies.
