Aeroelastic flutter energy harvesting performance from piezoelectric fiber composite array using Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-Pb(Ni,Nb)O3 laminates

Abstract Macro-fiber composites (MFC) using the 0.23PbZrO 3 -0.36PbTiO 3 -0.41Pb(Ni 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 (PZ-PT-PNN) ceramic were fabricated for aeroelastic flutter energy harvesters. The microstructure of the MFC driven in a transversal mode was analyzed and the performance of a cantilever array consisting of five MFC cantilevers was demonstrated to harvest fluttering energy against the wind. The Ag-coated PZ-PT-PNN ceramic with good piezoelectric properties of d 33 (703 pC N – 1 ) and k p (67.7%) was laminated by an approximately 107 um thick film for the completion of the MFC sandwiched between Cu interdigitated-electrode patterned polyimide films. The MFC was enhanced by attaching it onto an elastic substrate (SUS304) for better strain energy transformed from wind energy. It was shown that excellent energy harvesting performance of 0.14 mW cm −3 under 100 kΩ could be obtained at a wind speed of 10 m s −1 , implying high potential for use in aeroelastic flutter harvester applications.