Existing limitations
While the concept of piezoelectric energy harvesting is not new, its application in wearable devices has been hindered by limitations in material properties and device design.
“In the early stages of PENG research, cantilever-shaped inorganic piezoelectric devices were extensively studied, enabling efficient energy harvesting from high-frequency vibration,” said the study led by Professor Jang Kyung-In.
“However, these conventional designs are limited when they are applied to flexible and stretchable formats.”
Many materials with strong piezoelectric responses, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), are inherently rigid and brittle.
This makes them unsuitable for integration into flexible and comfortable wearable devices.