Energy harvesting sensor – PZT_0,5M_0,5(M:PVC, PP, PVDF) composite thick film equipped with SiO₂

PZT (Lead zircon titanate) material has been used for many years because of its unique piezoelectric properties especially in conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice versa, and it is the most used material in this piezoelectric area. These kinds of piezoelectric materials, which can be produced as thin or thick film, have a wide range of uses in electronics such as; ultrasonic applications, in aircraft air-flames, structural health monitoring, and in energy harvesting as actuators or transducers, due to its large surface area and flexibility. In this study, composite thick films were produced with PZT piezoelectric material by using different polymers. In addition, synthesized in nano size the SiO₂ (silicon dioxide) spheres were added to the films. PZT-5H (Navy Type VI) piezoelectric materials were made into film by melting method with the different polymers (Polyvinyl chloride - PVC, Polypropylene - PP, and Polyvinylidene fluoride - PVDF). The SiO₂ spheres, which have about 120nm particle size, were added to this polymer PZT films at a rate of 1%. In present study, invert microscope images and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the films were obtained, in addition to this, the capacitance, dielectric constant, resonance and anti-resonance frequencies and effective efficiencies were calculated with a homemade system. It can be decided that the produced films can be used as low frequency actuators or transducer in energy harvesting system.