Application of Passive Schemes for Pyroelectric Conversion of Low-Potential Heat

The paper presents the results of experimental pyroelectric studies of PZT piezoceramics by the methods of open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current. Pyroresponses resulted from action of modulated laser radiation on a pyroelement. It is shown that using altering the temperature of even a single pyroelement by 8.5 K enables production of a maximum electricenergy output power of about 16 μW on a 10 MΩ resistor at an open-circuit voltage of ∼ 90 V and a short-circuit current of ∼ 0.18 μA. The presented research contributes to the development of pyrogenerators for conversion of thermal energy using commercially available piezo-ceramics.