About this Research Topic
With the development of electronic devices, human life is more and more dependent on electrical energy. Energy harvesting, converting the ambient energy into electrical energy, is emerging as a potential alternative power supply for batteries that are ubiquitous in electronic devices. Using smart materials is the major approach to collect ambient energy such as vibrational energy or heat energy. A lot of novel materials and structures have been proposed to improve the efficiency and feasibility of energy harvesting.
Ambient energy, including ambient vibrational energy and heat energy, is complex and difficult to be collected, such as wave energy, walking energy and waste heat energy. Thus, the efficiency and feasibility are the great challenges for the development of converting ambient energy to electricity. Ambient vibrational energy, typical of low intensity and low frequency, is difficult to be collected by traditional electromagnetic generator. This provides opportunities for the development of energy harvesting using smart materials. Vibrational energy transfers to unwanted heat energy easily due to the friction in mechanical devices. Thus, triboelectric nanogenerators, hydrovoltaic generators and nonlinear energy harvesters are developed for vibrational energy harvesting. Thermocouple material is used to convert heat energy into electrical energy in possible amount. More and more possibilities have been shown for smart materials to collect ambient energy.
In this Research Topic, Review and Original Research papers on energy harvesting using smart materials are to be published. Specifically, the preparation and application of the materials, for ambient vibrational or heart energy, are expected for this topic. Mechanical design and optimization of the energy harvesters for wave energy, wearable devices, self-powered sensors will also be included. Nonlinear properties of the energy harvesting systems (related to full range of velocity, temperature, and frequency conditions), including modeling and characterization measurements, are also welcomed. Specific applications of energy harvesting in automobile systems, space and aviation, green buildings, human life are also particularly emphasized in this Research Topic.
The proposed topics for this Research Topic include (but are not limited to):
- Energy harvesting by triboelectric/ thermocouple/ piezoelectric materials/hydrovoltaic generators
- Design/optimization of the structures of the energy harvesters
- Potential applications of smart materials in energy harvesting
- Characterization models of smart materials in energy harvesting
- Nonlinear vibrational energy harvesters using smart materials
Ambient energy, including ambient vibrational energy and heat energy, is complex and difficult to be collected, such as wave energy, walking energy and waste heat energy. Thus, the efficiency and feasibility are the great challenges for the development of converting ambient energy to electricity. Ambient vibrational energy, typical of low intensity and low frequency, is difficult to be collected by traditional electromagnetic generator. This provides opportunities for the development of energy harvesting using smart materials. Vibrational energy transfers to unwanted heat energy easily due to the friction in mechanical devices. Thus, triboelectric nanogenerators, hydrovoltaic generators and nonlinear energy harvesters are developed for vibrational energy harvesting. Thermocouple material is used to convert heat energy into electrical energy in possible amount. More and more possibilities have been shown for smart materials to collect ambient energy.
In this Research Topic, Review and Original Research papers on energy harvesting using smart materials are to be published. Specifically, the preparation and application of the materials, for ambient vibrational or heart energy, are expected for this topic. Mechanical design and optimization of the energy harvesters for wave energy, wearable devices, self-powered sensors will also be included. Nonlinear properties of the energy harvesting systems (related to full range of velocity, temperature, and frequency conditions), including modeling and characterization measurements, are also welcomed. Specific applications of energy harvesting in automobile systems, space and aviation, green buildings, human life are also particularly emphasized in this Research Topic.
The proposed topics for this Research Topic include (but are not limited to):
- Energy harvesting by triboelectric/ thermocouple/ piezoelectric materials/hydrovoltaic generators
- Design/optimization of the structures of the energy harvesters
- Potential applications of smart materials in energy harvesting
- Characterization models of smart materials in energy harvesting
- Nonlinear vibrational energy harvesters using smart materials
Keywords: Smart materials, Energy harvesting, Vibration energy, Wind energy, Water energy
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
