Composite Piezoelectric Rubber Band for Energy Harvesting from Breathing and Limb Motion

We have successfully demonstrated the design and microfabrication of piezoelectric rubber bands and their application in energy harvesting from human motions. Composite polymeric and metallic microstructures with embedded bipolar charges are employed to realize the desired stretchability and electromechanical sensitivity. In the prototype demonstration, multilayer PDMS cellular structures coated with PTFE films and stretchable gold electrodes are fabricated and implanted with bipolar charges. The composite structures show elasticity of 300 similar to 600 kPa and extreme piezoelectricity of d(33) >2000 pC/N and d(31) >200 pC/N. For a working volume of 2.5cmx2.5cmx0.3mm, 10% (or 2.5mm) stretch results in effective d(31) of >17000 pC/N. It is estimated that electric charge of >0.2 mu C can be collected and stored per breath (or 2.5cm deformation). As such, the composite piezoelectric rubber bands (with spring constants of similar to 200 N/m) can be mounted on elastic waistbands to harvest the circumferential stretch during breathing, or on pads around joints to harvest the elongation during limb motion. Furthermore, the wearable piezoelectric structures can be spread, stacked and connected to charge energy storages and power micro devices.