Piezoelectric Materials: Harvesting Energy from Everyday Motion

While searching for sustainable energy sources, researchers have explored revolutionary ways of harnessing energy from regular body movement, vibration, pressure changes, or mechanical impulse.

Piezoelectric materials are one such energy source that is capable of converting mechanical power into electric power, which can be utilized immediately or stored for future use. Such materials produce electricity when they are subjected to mechanical stress, and hence they are very effective in energy harvesting applications.

Market Overview: Growth and Expansion

The piezoelectric materials market was valued at US$ 1.5 Bn in 2024 and is projected to reach US$ 2.5 Bn by 2035 growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during 2025-2035. Increasing demand of piezoelectric sensors, actuators, and transducers in consumer electronics such as wearables, smartphones, and MEMS devices are expected to drive the market. Expansion in wireless sensors demand and smart infrastructure owing to rising adoption of internet of things (IoT) to further drive the market.

Growing demand from medical devices such as hearing aids, pacemakers, and drug delivery systems are expected boost piezoelectric materials market growth. In healthcare sector other than medical devices, piezoelectric ultrasound transducers are widely employed in medical imaging and piezoelectric actuators and sensors are used in various minimally invasive surgeries.

What Are Piezoelectric Materials?

Piezoelectric materials are dielectric materials that produce electric current when subjected to mechanical stress. Quartz, topaz, tourmaline group minerals, and rochelle salt are some of the natural piezoelectric materials. Polymers, ceramics, and composite-based materials are classified under manmade piezoelectric materials. Zinc oxide (ZnO), barium titanate (BaTiO3), and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) are used in self-powered sensors, wearable electronics, actuators, and energy-harvesting devices.

Working Principle of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

Piezoelectric energy harvested by transforming kinetic energy from motion, vibration, or pressure into electrical power. Due to the intrinsic polarization of the piezoelectric materials, they generate electric charge under mechanical stress. This charge can then be harvested and stored in a battery or capacitor for later use.

Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Applications

Wearable Devices

Piezoelectric materials are used in wearable devices such as smartwatches and healthcare monitoring devices that get charged through different physical activities. This mitigate the need for frequent charging or battery replacement.

Building and Infrastructure

Piezoelectric devices can be installed on roads, sidewalks, and buildings to harvest energy from everyday activities that augments the conventional power supply.

Biomedical Devices

In healthcare sector, piezoelectric materials are used in medical devices such as pacemakers and prosthetics where they supply energy to these devices from patient’s body movement. This minimizes the dependency on external power source.

Industrial and Automotive Applications

Piezoelectric sensors help in measuring vibrations within equipment in factories and industries that ensures preventive maintenance and energy saving. Piezoelectric materials are used automotive industry in applications such as fuel atomizer, tire pressure sensors, keyless door entry, air bag sensor, seat belt buzzers, air flow sensor, audible alarms, knock sensors.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Although promising, piezoelectric materials are plagued by limited energy output and material degradation over time. Ongoing research on the development of high-performance flexible and cost-effective piezoelectric composites that are capable of harvesting mechanical energy at a larger scale.

Scientist are exploring the possibility of integrating piezoelectric technology with other renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy to develop hybrid energy systems. With technology advancements, it is possible to supply power to the buildings, roads, electrical appliances, and personal devices.