Equivalent circuit model of a nanogenerator based on a piezoelectric nanowire–polymer composite
Résumé
A vertically integrated nanogenerator (VING) refers to the new generation of mechanical energy harvesting devices: arrays of piezoelectric and semiconducting nanowires are grown perpendicularly to a substrate and appropriate electrodes enable charge circulation through an external electrical load. In this Letter, an equivalent circuit of VING is proposed. This model takes into account the effect of the polymer matrix that surrounds the nanowire lattice on the electromechanical behaviour of the generator. The active part of the material is then seen as a 1–3 piezocomposite. Simulations were made to study the VING performance in a context of body movement energy harvesting. In particular, it is shown that the strain amplitude and the strain rate of the piezocomposite have an impact on nanogenerator output voltage and output current, respectively