S3: Multi-functional Energy Conversion Materials and Devices for Energy Harvesting and/or Sensing

Energy conversion materials serve as one of the most important parts of an energy harvester and relevant systems. The functionality of such materials determines the input energy sources and largely affects the efficiencies of energy harvesters. Materials exhibiting piezoelectric, photovoltaic, pyroelectric, thermoelectric, electromagnetic, magnetostrictive or electrocaloric behaviour are conventionally used in energy harvesting research. They are also widely used for sensing. Using a harvester as a sensor simultaneously provides a viable option for multi-functional integrations. Meanwhile, in order to increase the number of input energy sources and the overall capability/effectiveness of energy harvesting processes, hybrid energy harvesters made from different materials/structures are under intensive investigation. Furthermore, multi-functional features, e.g. piezoelectric and pyroelectric, and piezoelectric and photovoltaic, can be realized in monolithic and composite materials.

These hybrid and multi-functional materials and devices are also promising alternatives for harvester-sensor integration. This symposium will review emerging and advanced hybrid energy conversion materials and devices with multi-source harvesting or harvesting-sensing multi-functionalities.

 

Proposed sessions

• Multi-functional materials – ceramics, polymers, films, composites, etc.
• Multi-functional hybrid structures and devices

 

Symposium organizers

Chris Bowen, University of Bath, UK, c.r.bowen@bath.ac.uk

Tim W. Button, University of Birmingham, UK, t.w.button@bham.ac.uk

Yang Bai, University of Oulu, Finland, yang.bai@oulu.fi