Energy Harvesting: Breakthrough Technologies Through Polymer Composites

Polymer composites have been extensively studied in the last few years toward application in solar-, thermoelectric-, and vibration-based energy harvesting technologies. Of late, polymer nanocomposites are being investigated successfully in hybrid organic-inorganic devices, in bulk heterojunction devices incorporating all flavors of solar cells, and through the perovskite structures. In the thermoelectric power generation arena, abundance of raw materials, lack of toxicity, and the feasibility for large-area applications are all advantages that polymer nanocomposites boast over their inorganic predecessors. Within the vibration-based energy systems, polymer nanocomposites are being used as the magnets within the harvester devices; they offer low rigidity and easy processing (spin coating, drop casting, and molding). Also, recent work has focused on utilizing polymer ceramic nanocomposites as electrostatic energy storage materials. Lastly, polymer-based piezoelectric materials can be used directly as an active material in different transduction applications.