Energy harvesting by nonlinear capacitance variation for a relaxor ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) terpolymer

Abstract

The present letter describes the investigation of the electrostatic energy harvesting through nonlinear capacitance variation caused by changes in temperature for a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)] terpolymer. Owing to the electric tunability of the terpolymer, the harvested energy can-using an Ericsson cycle-be simulated from permittivity under a dc electric field. When going from 25 to 0 °C, it was found, from simulation, that the harvested energy increased up to 240 mJ/cm3 when raising the electric field at 80 kV/mm. Experimental measurement was also carried out, thus confirming the feasibility of electrostatic energy harvesting through low temperature Ericsson cycle.