Pyroelectric Energy Harvesting: Materials and Applications

This chapter reviews energy harvesting materials and potential applications associated with pyroelectric materials and systems. Pyroelectric materials have the potential to generate electrical energy as a result of thermal fluctuations or influence of chemical reactions. Pyroelectric energy harvesting has been explored to a lesser extent compared to other energy harvesting methods, such as vibration or light harvesting, piezoelectric energy harvesting, or harvesting in thermoelectric systems. Materials of interest are discussed, and pyroelectric architectures and systems that can be employed to improve performance are described, such as the ability to form composite structures, porous materials, nanostructured materials, and the influence of microstructure and porosity on physical properties; methods of materials fabrication are also discussed. Thermal, chemical, and hybrid approaches to employ pyroelectric effects in harvesting applications are described.