Semiconductors For Energy Harvesting Applications
Keywords:
energy harvesting, semiconductors, piezoelectric, thermoelectric, photovoltaic, perovskite, ZNO, IoT, power density, conversion efficiencyAbstract
Energy harvesting—the process of capturing ambient energy from environmental sources and converting it into usable electrical power—has emerged as a cornerstone technology for autonomous electronics, wireless sensor networks, and the Internet of Things ( IOT ). Semiconductors play an indispensable role across all principal energy harvesting modalities, including photovoltaic, thermoelectric, piezoelectric, tribo electric, electromagnetic, and pyroelectric conversion. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of semiconductor materials and device architectures deployed in energy harvesting systems, synthesizing experimental data from peer-reviewed literature published between 2014 and 2023. The review covers material selection criteria, device physics, comparative performance metrics, and recent technological advances such as perovskite solar cells, two-dimensional (2 D) nanocomposites, and flexible organic semiconductors. Four data tables benchmark key properties—including conversion efficiency, power density, operating bandwidth, scalability, and technology readiness level—across leading semiconductor platforms. The methodology integrates systematic literature analysis with quantitative performance comparison. Findings indicate that silicon retains dominance in photovoltaic harvesting, while bismuth telluride compounds lead thermoelectric applications; piezoelectric systems based on lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and zinc oxide ( ZNO ) offer the highest mechanical-to-electrical transduction efficiencies. Emerging perovskite and hybrid organic-inorganic composites show outstanding potential for next-generation multifunctional harvesting devices. The paper concludes by identifying critical research gaps including long-term material stability, multi-source hybrid integration, and miniaturization challenges, and proposes a roadmap for future semiconductor engineering in sustainable energy systems.
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