Non-linear pyroelectric energy harvesting with commercial multilayer capacitors.
- 1Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) Esch-sur-Alzette 4362 Luxembourg [email protected] [email protected].
- 2University of Luxembourg Esch-sur-Alzette 4365 Luxembourg.
Abstract
Pyroelectric materials enable the transformation of periodic temperature variations into electrical power, offering a promising and sustainable electricity source. To date, several pyroelectric materials have been tested for waste heat harvesting, including ceramics such as lead scandium tantalate, which showed the highest performance when used in multilayer capacitors. However, these custom-made optimized capacitors are available in limited quantities, which questions their possible use in future large heat harvesters. Here, we investigate the potential of largely available industrially manufactured multilayer capacitors for non-linear pyroelectric heat harvesting. We first present an electrical screening of several of these capacitors, measuring their breakdown voltage, losses and theoretical harvested energy density for a given Olsen cycle. The best sample presents a maximum active energy density of 3.7 J cm⁻³ for a cycle run over a temperature span of 200 °C and under an applied voltage of 450 V. Then, characterization shows that this multilayer capacitor is made of Ca and Zr-doped BaTiO₃, with a Curie temperature of 10 °C. Finally, the capacitor's performance is evaluated in the context of a prospective heat harvesting device, confirming its potential as a viable candidate for non-linear pyroelectric energy harvesting.
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BibTeX
@article{helt2026nonlinear,
title = {{Non-linear pyroelectric energy harvesting with commercial multilayer capacitors.}},
author = {Amandine Helt and Omar Ramírez and Asmaa El Moul and Nathalie Valle and Cédric Bamberg and Emmanuel Defay},
journal = {Journal of materials chemistry. A},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1039/d6ta05388b},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948316},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Non-linear pyroelectric energy harvesting with commercial multilayer capacitors.
AU - Amandine Helt
AU - Omar Ramírez
AU - Asmaa El Moul
AU - Nathalie Valle
AU - Cédric Bamberg
AU - Emmanuel Defay
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Journal of materials chemistry. A
DO - 10.1039/d6ta05388b
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948316
AB - Pyroelectric materials enable the transformation of periodic temperature variations into electrical power, offering a promising and sustainable electricity source. To date, several pyroelectric materials have been tested for waste heat harvesting, including ceramics such as lead scandium tantalate, which showed the highest performance when used in multilayer capacitors. However, these custom-made optimized capacitors are available in limited quantities, which questions their possible use in future large heat harvesters. Here, we investigate the potential of largely available industrially manufactured multilayer capacitors for non-linear pyroelectric heat harvesting. We first present an electrical screening of several of these capacitors, measuring their breakdown voltage, losses and theoretical harvested energy density for a given Olsen cycle. The best sample presents a maximum active energy density of 3.7 J cm⁻³ for a cycle run over a temperature span of 200 °C and under an applied voltage of 450 V. Then, characterization shows that this multilayer capacitor is made of Ca and Zr-doped BaTiO₃, with a Curie temperature of 10 °C. Finally, the capacitor's performance is evaluated in the context of a prospective heat harvesting device, confirming its potential as a viable candidate for non-linear pyroelectric energy harvesting.
SN - 2050-7488
SN - 2050-7496
ER -