Indian Institute of Technology Mandi(IIT-Mandi) researchers have proposed a technique to enhance the power output of piezoelectric materials. Piezoelectric materials can be used in floor tiles to generate electricity from human walking, or on roads, where the weight from the vehicles can power road lights and signals, according to officials.

The IIT Mandi researchers' team, numerically studied piezoelectric materials that interconvert mechanical energy and electrical energy and have proposed a new arrangement to enhance the electrical output of these materials when subjected to stress. The results of the teamwork have been published in the journal Engineering Reports.

"Piezoelectric materials can generate electrical energy when a force is applied to them, and are thus extremely useful. Such materials can, for instance, be used in floor tiles to generate electrical energy from human walking, or on roads, where the weight from the vehicles can power road lights and signals. However, currently, the electrical energy produced by these materials is very low, which limits their applications in real-life situations," said Rajeev Kumar, Associate Professor, IIT Mandi.

Mr Rahul Vaish, also an associate professor at the institute said: "We have developed a technique known as 'graded poling' to enhance the power output of piezoelectric materials by over 100 times. The researchers have used numerical techniques to utilise multiple mechanical stresses - bending, compressive and tensile stresses at the top and bottom of the piezoelectric cantilever beams and shear stresses in the mid-section - in order to significantly improve the electrical output."

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