High-performance perovskite-based energy harvesting devices

压电纳米发电机可以将无处不在的机械能转化为电能，已经成为一种非常有前途的自供电小型电子设备和传感器的电源。在压电材料中，分子/原子的偶极矩在外加机械应变的作用下发生变化，导致宏观电荷积累/电流在材料表面流动。然而，传统的压电材料大多是无机晶体和/或陶瓷。遗憾的是，这些高度压电的无机晶体和陶瓷天生就是脆性的(因此很脆弱，不容易弯曲)，而且它们的材料合成往往基于高温过程。本研究计划的目标是开发和优化基于钙钛矿基的高性能有机-无机杂化集能技术。有机-无机杂化钙钛矿复合材料在分子水平上结合了有机分子和晶态无机材料的优点。主要研究内容包括：(1)采用溶液法合成具有高压电系数和良好化学稳定性的新型钙钛矿材料；(2)基于有机-无机杂化钙钛矿复合材料的能量收集器件的制备与表征；(3)制作的能量收集、无线通信和遥感器件的应用示范。这些新技术的开发和实施将有助于加拿大在这一日益增长的绿色能源纳米材料和设备领域确立领先地位。发明的材料和设备的商业化将促进加拿大在物联网、可穿戴电子和传感器以及生物医学工程领域的工业。这项研究还将为研究生和博士后研究员提供一个在纳米材料、纳米制造、纳米电子学和生物医学设备方面获得实践经验的绝佳机会。这些技能包括材料合成和表征；电气、光学、光谱和微观表征；设备制造和系统集成；通信、人际关系和领导技能，这些技能对加拿大经济具有战略重要性的部门(纳米电子、先进制造、生物医学设备、医疗保健)的职业生涯至关重要。

Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs), which can convert ubiquitously available mechanical energies to electricity, have emerged as a very promising power source for self-powered small-sized electronics and sensors. In piezoelectric materials, the dipole moment of molecules/atoms is altered upon the application of external mechanical strain, leading to macroscopic electric charge accumulation/current flow at material surfaces. Nevertheless, most of conventional piezoelectric materials are inorganic crystals and/or ceramics. Unfortunately, these highly-piezoelectric inorganic crystals and ceramics are inherently brittle (thus fragile and not flexible) and their material synthesis is often based on a high-temperature process.  The goal of this research program is to develop and optimize high-performance organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite-based energy harvesting technologies. The organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite composite materials combine the merits of both organic molecules and crystalline inorganic materials at a molecular level. The key research objectives include: (1) The material synthesis and characterization of novel perovskite materials with high piezoelectric coefficient and excellent chemical stability using solution-based approaches; (2) The device fabrication and characterization of energy-harvesting devices based on organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite composite materials; (3) The application demonstration of fabricated devices for energy harvesting, wireless communication and remote sensing. The development and implementation of these novel technologies will help establish a leadership position for Canada within this growing field of green energy nanomaterials and devices. The commercialization of the invented materials and devices will promote Canadian industry in the fields of Internet of Things, wearable electronics and sensors, and biomedical engineering. This research will also provide an excellent opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to gain hands-on experience in nanomaterials, nanofabrication, nanoelectronics, biomedical devices. These skills include material synthesis and characterizations; electrical, optical, spectroscopic and microscopic characterizations; device fabrication and system integration; communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, which are crucial for careers in the strategically important sectors (nanoelectronics, advanced manufacture, biomedical devices, health care) to the Canadian economy.