Feature: Energy harvesting
The right research environment Research into the development of novel ferroelectric thin films based on halide perovskites requires precise temperature and environment control; see Figure 1. All ferroelectric materials are piezoelectric, and their nature
allows them to efficiently convert mechanical vibrations and temperature changes into usable electrical energy. Ferroelectric materials with semiconducting properties can harvest light to generate electric energy through the photovoltaic effect. However, the ferroelectric properties of halide perovskite thin films only exist below the Curie temperature – the critical temperature above which a ferro- or ferri-magnetic material loses its permanent magnetic properties, transforming into a paramagnetic state. Hence, it is critical to establish the temperature at which the transition happens. Above the Curie temperature, ferroelectric and polar properties disappear and their dielectric functions change, too. Te novel thin film semiconducting ferroelectric device
Figure 1: The University of St. Andrews’ lab setup
thin ferroelectric PVDF films at less than a micrometre hampers their application into micro-nanoscale electronics. One of the most promising class of materials in emerging
ferroelectrics is halide perovskites. As well as being a semiconducting ferroelectric, halide perovskites exist in both thin film and bulk form, making their integration with IoT and wearable technology possible. Their band gap can be tuned depending on their composition, to capture more incoming light to convert into electrical energy with minimum loss. These tuneable properties, both structurally and in composition, mean they can be used for light harvesting from the sun and, critically, for light harvesting from artificial light sources inside buildings, too. Perovskite solar cells are primarily suited to green energy
harvesting using sunlight, as in photovoltaics. Te group at the University of St. Andrews was the first to report on a breakthrough in the semiconductive and ferroelectric properties of layered, low-dimensional halide perovskite Ruddlesden- Popper (RP) thin films, (BA)2
(MA)n-1 Pbn Br3n+1 (n = 1, 2), which
can generate energy both through absorbing light and through mechanical sources like human movement and mechanical vibrations, representing a compact, efficient and sustainable new energy source. Pb-containing halide perovskites are being investigated due
to their superior suitability for semiconducting ferroelectric devices, combined with hybrid energy harvesting potential. They lend themselves to being combined with very small sensors, presenting significant potential in bringing smart technologies to reality.
architecture demonstrates the critical role of barrier layers in achieving reproducible ferroelectric properties, confirmed through a multimodal complementary measurement approach. Te high performance mechanical and light energy harvesting potential of halide perovskite thin films was demonstrated in the fabrication of flexible piezoelectric harvesters and in photovoltaic devices.
More applications of halide perovskite thin films Halide perovskite thin films also show a unique self-healing property aſter radiation and light damage, making them promising candidates for use in space photovoltaics. Te wide range temperature control of a high vacuum heating stage (Figure 2), together with an AM0 solar simulator for space solar cells, is being used to investigate the thermal stability of halide perovskite solar cells for future space applications.
Figure 2: The University of St. Andrews’ temperature and vacuum stage
www.electronicsworld.co.uk June 2026 33
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