Advanced pyroelectric materials for energy harvesting and sensing applications

Heat energy is among the most wasted energy in the environment which is available in an ample quantity. So, developing new technology for harvesting and detecting wasted thermal energy to produce electrical energy which may be used as reliable energy sources for ultra-low power devices like nanogenerators and self-powered sensor applications. In this approach, pyroelectric energy harvesting technology has gained a huge attraction for application in power generation and sensing systems. Currently, a class of pyroelectric and piezoelectric materials has drawn enormous attraction because of its pyroelectric effect caused by spontaneous polarization and successful thermal energy harvesting for producing electrical energy for application in many sensor networks. This review makes a comprehensive summary of the significance and physical application of pyroelectric materials including single crystal, inorganic films, ceramics, organic materials, polymers, and composites as energy harvesting devices for scavenging thermal energy from surrounding for sensing devices. Finally, the perspective for next-generation self-powered sensor technologies is described.