From materials to devices: Bottom-up integration of nanomaterials onto silicon microstructures for thermoelectric and piezoelectric applications

Energy autonomy keeps being one of the most desired enabling functionalities in the context of off-grid applications, such as continuous monitoring scenarios and distributed intelligence paradigms (Internet of Things, Trillion Sensors). SiNERGY, a European project (GA n° 604169) coordinated by IMB-CNM (CSIC) has focused on silicon and silicon friendly materials and technologies to explore energy harvesting and storage concepts for powering microsensors nodes. Harvesting energy, tapping into environmentally available sources may be a good solution to overcome the use of primary batteries. 10–100 microwatts per square centimeter power densities seem appropriate for many such applications. Specific thermoelectric and piezoelectric developments are reviewed.