IIT Mandi researchers propose method to enhance materials that convert mechanical energy to electrical energy

New Delhi: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi researchers have proposed a technique to enhance the power output of piezoelectric materials, although the experimental application of the technique remains challenging now, said the institute in a press release today. Piezoelectric materials can be used in floor tiles to generate electricity from walking, or on roads, where the weight from vehicles passing by can power traffic lights and road lamps.

The researchers studied piezoelectric materials and proposed a new arrangement that betters the electrical output of these materials when subjected to stress. If more electrical energy can be produced, this can lead to applications like smart devices which are powered by human motion. Even soles of footwear can be equipped with these materials.

The results of their work have been published in the journal Engineering Reports. The research paper has been co-authored by researcher scholars Raj Kiran, Sourav Sharma, along with Dr. Anuruddh Kumar, IIT Mandi alumnus currently working at Hanyang University, North Korea, under the supervision of Rajeev Kumar and Rahul Vaish, both associate professors, school of engineering, IIT Mandi.

“Piezoelectric materials can generate electrical energy when a force is applied on them, and are thus extremely useful”, explained Kumar. However, at present, the energy produced by these materials is very low. This means they have limited real-life applications.

“We have developed a technique known as “graded poling” to enhance the power output of piezoelectric materials by more than 100 times”, said Vaish.

The researchers used numerical techniques to use different kinds of mechanical stresses to improve the electrical output.

“The experimental implementation of graded poling is challenging at present”, said Kumar. However, the results of this study and the enormous improvements possible through the graded poling technique offers incentive for researchers to develop actual piezoelectric designs that implement the graded poling technique so that the applications can be realised.