Electromechanical Probing of Ionic Currents in Energy Storage Materials

The electrochemical processes in energy storage materials are generally linked with changes of molar volume of the host compound. Here, the frequency dependent strain response of 1D electrochemically active systems to periodic electric bias is analyzed. The sensitivity and resolution of these electrochemical strain measurements are compared to the current-based electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The resolution and detection limits of interferometric and atomic force microscopy based systems for probing electrochemical reactions on the nanoscale are analyzed.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, 2 appendices, submitted to Appl. Phys. Let

Pyroelectric response of ferroelectric nanoparticles: size effect and electric energy harvesting

The size effect on pyroelectric response of ferroelectric nanowires and nanotubes is analyzed. The pyroelectric coefficient strongly increases with the wire radius decrease and diverges at critical radius Rcr corresponding to the size-driven transition into paraelectric phase. Size-driven enhancement of pyroelectric coupling leads to the giant pyroelectric current and voltage generation by the polarized ferroelectric nanoparticles in response to the temperature fluctuation. The maximum efficiency of the pyroelectric energy harvesting and bolometric detection is derived, and is shown to approach the Carnot limit for low temperatures.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 1 Appendi