Power Generation from Piezoelectric Lead Zirconate Titanate Fiber Composites

Abstract

ABSTRACTPower generation from lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric fibers in the form of 1–3 composites under application of an external force was investigated. Green fibers consisting of PZT powder dispersed in a cellulose binder were made by the Viscous Suspension Spinning Process (VSSP). The composites were made by firing sheets of parallel green PZT fibers at 1270 °C, and then laminating the sintered sheets in epoxy. Composites of several PZT fiber diameters (15, 45, 120, and 250 μm), with the fiber volume fraction fixed at ∼0.4, were investigated. Transducers comprised of electrode and poled plates of the composites, in which the plate thickness direction was in the fiber axis direction, were made. Power generation experiments were conducted by dropping a 33 g stainless steel ball onto the electroded face of each transducer from a height of 10 cm and recording the output voltage on an oscilloscope. A peak voltage of 350 V corresponding to 120 mW of peak power was obtained. The output voltage and power was the highest for the transducers made with the smallest diameter fibers (15μm) and increased with increasing of transducer thickness. The average piezoelectric coefficient, d33, of the transducers was about 300 pC/N and decreased with decreasing transducer thickness. In this paper, the power generation capability and dielectric properties of the laminated 1–3 fiber composites are discussed.