The activity focus is achieving flexible piezoelectric polymer-ceramics and thermoelectric polymer-Van der Waals dichalcogenides composite materials to be integrated in flexible PEH (piezoelectric harvester) and TE (thermoelectric) devices (Scheme) for producing sustainable electric energy by efficiently exploiting plentiful mechanical and thermal energy sources accessible all around us, such as natural (marine) environment/human/machinery vibration, bending, and pressure for PEH and solar energy and waste heat sources for TE.

Smart piezoelectric materials will be achieved by properly embedding high-permittivity (k > 1000) ceramic inclusions in suitable polymer matrices characterized by a high breakdown field. One of the main purposes is the use of lead-free and non-toxic ceramic particles, such as BaTiO₃, which to date are less performing than lead-based counterparts but with the potential to pave the way environmentally-safe applications.

MoS₂ and SnSe₂ flakes have been selected as the Van der Waals active fillers for the thermoelectric materials. Both types of functional inorganic inclusions have been synthesized by eco-friendly methods, such as hydrothermal-like synthesis.

For both flexible PEH and TE devices, non-toxic and biocompatible polymers have been chosen as the matrices. Amongst them, suitable candidates are poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers, due to their unique ferroelectric properties and low thermal conductivity, as well as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for its compliant elastomeric behaviour.

TRL 2-4