Thermomechanical Cycle for Thermal and/or Mechanical Energy Conversion Using Ferroelectric Materials

Professor Pilon and colleagues have developed a new energy cycle that converts thermal and/or mechanical energies directly into electrical energy. With the ability to harvest waste heat the cycle could be used to increase the efficiency of systems like internal combustion engines heat pumps and refrigeration systems. Mechanical energy harvesting could be used to salvage energy from roads and various transportation systems.